1. Flexible work solutions

A recent PwC study shows that companies and workers still don't see eye-to-eye on the optimal balance between remote and onsite work - employees want it for work-life balance more than employers do. Nevertheless, the shift to a hybrid home/office work setting is well underway: just 1 in 6 companies (17%) is now pushing to bring all work onsite and in-person as soon as possible. But beyond the hybrid workplace, SHRM also notes a growing demand for more flexible hours and quotes recent research stating the  81 percent of employees said they would be more loyal to their employers if they had flexible work options.

Flexible work hours and workplaces don't necessarily add to costs and can often lower real estate and other expenses. However, this flexibility does introduce a host of administrative and logistical challenges for employers. As companies deemphasize onsite child care, many are looking to create more hybrid-friendly child care benefits, for example, with access to online platforms for finding and managing care. Keeping track of hybrid employees is also a challenge. While there are a number of online work scheduling solutions available, employers need help finding and implementing the best choice for their needs. And the broader issue of employee absence management becomes even more of a headache. These work flexibility issues create opportunities for brokers to help bring in the right third-party solution to their problems. For example, third party solutions can help minimize the productivity issues of absence while ensuring consistency and objectivity in the treatment of employees, which is key to compliance with labor laws such as FMLA and the ADA
 

2. Virtual health services

Telehealth usage surged dramatically during the pandemic: 529,000 claims were filed nationwide in February 2020, but the rest of the year averaged more than 8,000,000 telehealth claims per month - a 16x increase. While some drop-off is expected, experts don't foresee telehealth going away because it works well for employers and employees alike: workers with mild or familiar symptoms can be seen quickly without traveling to and from the doctor or dentist's office. In turn, that helps reduce lost productivity for employers. 

Telehealth services don't add directly to an employer's expense because they are typically embedded in the overall cost of a company's medical and dental plans. However, as employers evaluate yearly plan changes, telehealth benefits may become more of a priority, so brokers should be prepared to speak knowledgeably about the pros and cons of offerings from competing providers. For example, while several dental plan providers, including Guardian, offer teledentistry coverage, expect clients to require more information about the level of telemedicine support among competing options.

3. Group life insurance

Many employees are still reluctant to purchase life insurance as individuals. However, a 2017 LIMRA study found that 58% of workers strongly feel that life insurance benefits were important in the workplace. And in the wake of the pandemic, LIMRA's 2021 Insurance Barometer Study has since found an increased interest in life insurance, which is consistent with the aftermath of past mass mortality events, such as 9/11. 

Employer-based coverage has declined somewhat in recent years, so companies that offer it have an opportunity to set themselves apart. Remember, employers are willing to invest in benefits that employees really want, and group life insurance could be what tips the scales in your client's favor for a new job applicant. Moreover, while there is a cost, it may be surprisingly low for many employers: Glassdoor reports that it costs only $36 per month to cover a 40-year old employee in good health.

4. Voluntary supplemental health benefits

Even though employers express increased willingness to invest in benefits, health care costs continue to be a concern. While they are looking for ways to contain costs, there's a limit to how much of the cost burden can be shifted to employees: Nearly 3 in 5 working Americans would have to borrow money to pay for a $3,000 medical bill.2 That's why voluntary supplemental benefits – Accident InsuranceCritical Illness InsuranceCancer Insurance, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance continue to grow in popularity. While brokers certainly don't need to be reminded of the value proposition for each of these benefits, it's an excellent time to remind clients why they should be offered to workers. 

52% of workers plan to become job seekers in 2021. And every time an employee leaves, it costs your clients real money: Gallup estimates that US businesses incur one trillion dollars in losses each year due to employee turnover. Of course, the labor market could change drastically next year, but right now, employers are looking at benefit offerings to help limit their turnover costs. So take full advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.

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