How brokers are making the best of their new work environment

We asked our readers how they’re adapting to working from home and what they’re doing to make it more enjoyable. Here’s what you said.

No place like home?

I have created an exact match of my screen configurations and office layout to make the transition very familiar. I think I am much more productive now and am not working longer or harder. I think working remotely will be more of a norm for me moving forward.

Jim Blachek, CEO, Dynamic Benefits Solutions

I miss my … commute?

Sounds crazy, but I typically drive about 45 minutes into my downtown Boston office. I’ve recreated my commute to and from at the beginning and end of my day (just driving around town) to listen to my favorite pods and “turn on” and “turn off.” It’s helped!

Sean Glavin, partner, Lockton Companies

The humanity!

Two things that have been great:

1. It has been awesome doing video calls with employers, team members, and partners when they are in their homes. It brings a genuineness and human element to conversations that didn’t exist in board rooms, phone calls, etc.

2. Working from home can be very challenging, especially with young kids at home. I have found that there are some amazing opportunities, though. I am thankful I work in an industry that is resilient through times like this and that I have the opportunity to work from home. Also, there are great opportunities to spend more time with my kids throughout the day and get quality time with my little ones.

Ben Conner, president and CEO, Conner Insurance

The little things

All three of our kids are homeschooled already, so not much has changed for them—much to their dismay. My hubby and I have worked remotely for over 10 years together and start each day with a deck of cards and a cup (or 20) of coffee. We are very fortunate to live in the country and have outdoor activities at our doorstep. Did I say fortunate? I mean that. I appreciate the outdoors and outdoor activities. My heart goes out to those who are confined to smaller areas or city bound. I’ve tried to connect more to my clients and friends who are in those environments to lift their spirits a little. I love playing piano and have put on Facebook concerts several times a week. Listeners can make requests and connect with one another in the chat.

Music is healing for sure. Some of the ways that we’ve all connected with each other seemed really inconsequential before COVID-19, but are now the only connections we’ve had. Little things matter, in a good way. In this fast-paced world, let’s keep it that way.

Karen L. Kirkpatrick, owner, On Your Mark Consulting

Fresh perspective

I’m not sure I’ve done anything creative or unusual, but it has certainly given me some new perspective on a few things. One thing it’s taught me is that slowing down is OK. We all work too much. Just being with family more is a good reminder that work will be there when we get back. It’s also given us the opportunity to communicate better and more often with our clients and prospects. They need education and resources right now, and it’s been good to have our content welcomed by our clients. That’s a bit of a perspective shift for me, too. I appreciate my staff a little more, too—they are innovative, creative, and hard working. Without them, none of this would work!

Josh Butler, president, Butler Benefits & Consulting

Like riding a bike…

Like many, I’ve had to quickly adapt to the new realities of the current COVID-19 world, both from a business and personal perspective. While working from home was nothing new for me, I’ve had to navigate a household in which myself, my wife and two daughters are now all working from home at the same time. Thankfully, I recently renovated my home office and converted my traditional office desk into an optional standing desk.

Also, one of the silver linings of the quarantine or stay-at-home order is that it has coincided with a warming of the weather. Although state and county parks have been temporarily closed in New Jersey, many municipal parks remain open. To that point, it motivated me to finally tune-up my bike, which had been sitting idle in my garage for a number of years. Couple springtime with my youngest daughter finally learning how to ride her bike, and my family and I have taken daily bike rides to break up our days.

Kevin Kennedy, benefits consultant, TriBen Insurance

Phone home

Overall, social distancing and quarantining has been pretty similar to normal life for my family and I, with the exception of being home more than usual, which can be challenging with toddlers in the house. We worked to create new play areas for our twins, both inside and outside, in order to accommodate work calls and more, but also to help keep them busy and entertained. It’s just as important for them as it is for us.

In addition to this, my parents have been sharing old photos—many of which are what you’d imagine for kids raised in the 1980s—that likely would make for great memes. All of this has further cemented the concept of self-reliance, something that I think many can benefit from, especially if advising clients to self-fund their health plans. But it has also helped our family and neighbors come closer together (from a distance) to support each other at the same time.

Derek Winn, senior benefits consultant, BBG

Making the best of it

I am not the biggest fan of working from home. But, I have learned Zoom really fast and improved my lighting and video abilities. I hold regular virtual meetings with my team. I’m encouraging them to get out and take breaks. We are also discussing challenges like who can get the most walks in, drink the most water, etc. I’m trying to keep them active and healthy to help them avoid burnout. I appreciate that I have a home that feels safe. I love knowing where my family is at all times and having them here, but yet…I do need my alone time to recharge. I’m a social creature and really enjoy face to face.

Tanya Boyd, president, Tanya Boyd & Associate

What matters most

The coronavirus has made working and cooking at home normal. I love our sit-down meals. Our clients and vendor partners like seeing our kids and dogs on Zoom and we enjoy seeing theirs. Our conversations have made time to focus on what matters most to those we serve. We are all making some choices that stretch us, forcing all of us to become more empowered. We have a lot going on in the house. My daughter ships N95 face masks from our kitchen and front room.

My husband runs an online training and nutrition program from the back room. My team and I work virtually to support benefits inside employer plans. We see our roles as gatekeepers of all kinds of resources; because of the diversity of the organizations we partner with, nothing is off limits. If we can help someone else, we make it happen. It feels like community on a whole new level.

Kim Eckelbarger, founder, Tropical Benefits