Despite everything else, employers need to remain focused on making the right benefits decisions for themselves and employees this year. (Photo: Shutterstock)

For most employers, benefits renewals and open enrollment are probably the last things keeping them up at night these days, and with good reason. It's hard to say what business will look like a month from now, let alone make plans for next year.

Thankfully, right now, benefits brokers and consultants are doing the heavy lifting for them. In a recent BenefitsPRO webinar, industry leaders discussed some of the steps they're taking with their clients to prepare for an especially daunting enrollment season. Here are three key takeaways:

Change is on everyone's mind

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wakeup call for many employees, and we can expect to see that reflected in their approach to benefits this year. "The complexity of the current climate requires us to look at benefits through a new lens," said Desiree Pascual, chief people officer at Ginger. "Employees have become much more attuned to their needs, much more engaged in articulating what matters to them. We expect to see much less of that passive, last-minute decision-making when it comes to open enrollment."