NAILBA Perspectives Virtual Symposium Special Edition | Page 18

AGENT SURVEY Working from home from page 16 Feedback from the field This survey featured a qualitative aspect too, in addition to the data collected. The researchers asked for comments and opinions about working from home. Here is some of the feedback they received: “I had changed to a work-at-home status several years ago. We are able to perform all of our duties via phone, email, video conference or, meeting at their home/office just as well as in our own office.” “We have learned a lot — will come through this with new skills.” “Working from home has been a dream! I have no desire to return to the office. I would prefer to continue working in the privacy and safety of my own home.” “My agency embraces technology and supports their employees. We were very proactively sent home with our computers and phones, to start working at home. It was seamless.” “I’ve been working from home full-time since our state stay-at-home order. We now have the possibility to work from home full time and our company can look for a smaller space when the lease is up. I have felt less stressed and my quality of life has improved. I miss my work family but we stay in touch and continue to keep our culture.” On the flip side, some respondents state they’re eager to return to their offices: “It has been hard to stay out of the office and not personally see our clients. We have a relationship with most of them and feel not being there personally is not right. We have two staff members who have been going into the office and only using the lobby for contact. No one is going back to the offices. We are a very friendly group and this has been a real change for us.” “Now that we are back in the office partially, we are seeing a better flow. People are happier now.” Any way you look at it, this experience has been a challenge. And as with all challenges, the smart producer or agency will take what worked from the experience and integrate that into the business moving forward. Charles K. Hirsch, CLU Chuck Hirsch, CLU, is the former editor and publisher of Life Insurance Selling magazine. He continues to contribute to insurance industry publications, in addition to providing consulting and marketing services through his firm, Hirsch Communications Consulting, LLC. He can be reached at [email protected] 18 Perspectives Q3 Special Edition 2020