We're in the era of the Great Realization. This isn't simply a Great Resignation, a Great Reshuffle, a Great Awakening, or any of the other "Great fill in the blanks" that you've seen on LinkedIn recently. It's a realization — hitting workers and enterprises alike — that the old ways of working simply don't work for us anymore. 

So, what's changed? And what will it mean for employers and their benefits advisors as they look to the future?

The pandemic forced a lot of the workforce to pause and evaluate what was working for them and what needed to change. The results show that people want employers to offer more. Employees want their employers to prioritize: 

• Wellbeing and purpose
• Flexibility
• Competitive pay
• Good working conditions
• Skills development

And in the battle for talent, employers and benefits advisors will continue to face immense pressure to deliver a whole person health care approach along with benefits that attract strong candidates, satisfy existing employees, and provide increased value. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, self-insured employers have raised health care benefits premium spend by 4% in order to compete in the battle for talent.