Florida Blue hiring agents ahead of fall open enrollment, innovating workspace

Jacksonville, FL — One of NE Florida’s largest private employers, Florida Blue, is in the process of adding to its workforce ahead of fall open enrollment.

Market President Darnell Smith joined Jacksonville’s Morning News to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on its business operations, the programs available to its members who are dealing with emotional issues, and the future of its workspace going forward.

95% of its employees moved to work from home at the height of the crisis. It is waiting for the 14-day average decline in cases as recommended by health officials, and hasn’t put a definite date on when employees will begin to return. And when they do, Smith said the process will be deliberately done in phases and with several preventive steps being taken. It will initially begin 10% of capacity, then give time to evaluate how things are going and so on.

“We’re follow strict protocols on our campus including masks, desks 6’ apart, limited number of people on elevators, hand sanitizer stations”, Smith said.

With 7,000 people already employed in the Jacksonville area, Smith said Florida Blue is adding even more workers this late spring into early summer.

“We’re now hiring 1,200 licensed health insurance agents to prepare for our fall open enrollment. But I will tell you many companies found ways to simply step up and continue moving forward with the business at hand”, said Smith.