Article Resources of the ERC5
Welcome to the East of the River Chamber of Commerce Resources section! Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about our organization. Are you looking to join the East of the River Chamber of Commerce? Great! We welcome businesses of all sizes and industries to become members. As a member, you’ll have access to a variety of resources and opportunities designed to help your business grow and succeed, including networking events, educational workshops, and promotional opportunities.
Trade Barriers-Tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers
All countries in the world, including the United States, use trade barriers in conducting international business with other countries. Reasons as to why a country would use trade barriers include: 1) protecting jobs and industries 2) protecting consumers 3)...
2025 Cybersecurity Report
Industry Insights Executive Summary Cyberattacks on SMBs are up 16% in 2025, with average breach costs reaching $140,000. Ransomware, phishing, and AI misuse are the leading threats. Faster patching, stronger identity security, and regular training are key to reducing...
Cyber Security Article: Defining Moments
One of the biggest risks of a Cyber Attack is by email. Why email? It’s one of the easiest ways of gaining access to your system, data, Outlook compromise and stealing your credentials. The attacker sends you an email to trick and scam you. This is called phishing. ...
ERC5 Member Featured in Pest Management Professional Magazine!
ERC5 Member, Graduate Pest Solutions (GPS), was featured in Pest Management Professional Our members were proudly featured in this article to talk about their business. Brenda and Paul Olesuk are the mother-son duo behind Graduate Pest Solutions (GPS), based in...
Why do some employees hoard vacation days?
Article by: Cal Wilson Question: Why do some employees hoard vacation days? Answer: If you’re an employer, or manage a team of people, one behavior you might find taxing is vacation day ‘hoarding.’ This is the practice of intentionally allowing unused vacation days to...
Navigating Employee Leave: Legal Obligations and Options in Massachusetts
Question: An employee has informed us that she has an upcoming surgery and that she will need off 15 weeks for the surgery and recovery. She indicated that the surgery cannot be delayed. The surgery is scheduled for our busy season. We only have 7 employees so we...