In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak last spring, brokers and other industry leaders speculated about how quickly business would return to normal. That turned out to be wishful thinking. For better or worse, the pandemic has drastically changed everything from office operations to client interaction to marketing strategies.

"These current trends are the new normal," says Steve Boddy, content director for WorldatWork in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Organizations must refocus on remote work opportunities; employee well-being programs that emphasize personal wellness, family, organizational and societal well-being; and ensure that their baseline health insurance includes telemedicine, coverage for COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations when they become available.