As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact U.S. employees' personal and professional lives heading into open enrollment season, brokers must serve as advocates for the role that benefits play in supporting and protecting workers' rapidly shifting short and long-term interests.

In fact, according to MetLife's 2020 open enrollment survey, nearly half of employees feel open enrollment is more important this year than last in the wake of the pandemic, with many prioritizing different benefits that better align with their pandemic-related concerns.

For this reason, it will be more important than ever for employers to help employees maximize their benefits, especially because they may be dealing with new and unfamiliar pain points. Brokers can help steer the enrollment process by providing employers with insights that reflect the changing benefits needs and preferences of their employees.