Worth fighting for
Our industry is full of heartening stories these days as benefits professionals, their families and their coworkers find ways to help and lead.
The title of last month’s column, “Look for the helpers,” referenced Mr. Rogers’ well-known advice on helping children through periods of crisis. During hard times, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged, especially given the onslaught of information we’re now inundated with every day. But that’s never the whole story.
As our team has worked hard to cover the fallout of the pandemic and its numerous impacts on our industry, we, too, have at times become worn down by the sheer magnitude of COVID-19 and it’s many negative impacts. But amidst the hardship and sorrow, we’ve also been fortunate to discover many examples of people and companies helping out and doing good.
Related: How will the COVID-19 pandemic end? Experts foresee 3 possible futures
Last month’s Broker of the Year profiles offered a glimpse of how our five finalists are making a difference in their businesses and communities, but it won’t surprise you to hear that this type of leadership and charity is evident across our industry. In this month’s Face of Change (page 8), Chelsea Whalley discusses her hopes of leaving a legacy and helping change people’s lives. When the pandemic began to close clients’ businesses, Whalley and her business partner reached out to every single client and asked about their immediate needs. “One told us they needed 300 facemasks for their nurses, so we hired friends who had been furloughed and found a way to pay these people we care about to make masks.”
These types of stories are happening all across our industry as benefits professionals, their families and their coworkers find ways to help and lead. Meanwhile, this month’s Action Reaction (page 38) offers perspectives from your peers describing how they’re adapting to working at home and running their businesses remotely. While there are plenty of obstacles and challenges, these are balanced out by more time with family and learning more about their peers and clients via Zoom calls, complete with photo bombs from pets and kids.
| Check out the full digital version of BenefitsPRO’s June issue. |
My social media feeds include plenty of sadness and bad news these days, but every time I’m about to tune out for a while, I come across a post about Josh and Allison Butler of Butler Benefits and their family making PB&J sandwiches for needy families in their community of Amarillo, Texas. Or Felipe Barganier of GAB International distributing N95 masks, hand sanitizer and other needed supplies in the Atlanta area.
We’re all going to have times where we need reminders of the good that’s happening out there. If you find yourself in that situation, look for the helpers.
Chances are, they’re a lot closer than you’d think.
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