Unum among the best

There is no short supply of accolades and praise at Unum this year.

The Chattanooga-based insurer recently received multiple “best of” honors, including being named a finalist for the Best Employers in Tennessee and among the Best Places to Work in Insurance.

It also received the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Award, was listed as the Best Large Employer in Maine and was named by Newsweek as one of the Greenest Companies in America.

“All these honors are nice, but it really says a lot about what our employees are saying,” said Sharon Johnson, director of the human resource response team at Unum.

Almost all of the awards and honors involved random employee satisfaction surveys.

“The feedback was good,” Ms. Johnson said.

BusinessTN magazine included Unum in its Best Employer in Tennessee list for the third time in four years.

According to the magazine, the list was compiled based on the company’s dedication to employee growth, development and quality of life. Unum was cited for its “work environment that emphasizes collaboration and flexibility” such as allowing many employees to work from home.

Bob Best, chief operating officer for the company, said Unum realizes the employees are its most valuable asset and goes the extra mile to treat them so.

The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management named Unum’s office there the best large employer in the state.

According to the Council, Unum was listed among 31 finalists and was ultimately named to the top spot for employers with more than 250 workers because Unum “consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments.”

Business Insurance, a national publication providing information about the insurance industry, named Unum the Best Place to Work in Insurance in the category for large insurers.

The publication cited several of Unum’s policies that foster input and communication by employees and rewards them for performance. Business Insurance specifically mentioned an annual program at Unum that treats 500 of its customer service representatives to a trip to Disney World.

What makes Unum such a desirable place to work is its dedication to its employees, Ms. Johnson said. She noted Unum has increased its focus on training and developing employees, provides open communication between the board and top managers to entry-level workers, bolstered its tuition reimbursement program, and expanded its telecommuting program.

“We are making a bigger investment and putting more focus on employee development,” Ms. Johnson said. “It makes them stronger performers for us.”

The National Business Group on Health named Unum among its list of 63 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles. The list recognizes companies that have shown a commitment to a healthy workplace and for helping employees and their families make better choices about their own health and well-being.

Mr. Johnson said Unum has a gym in its downtown campus and a walking track on its roof. It also has a Wellness Clinic for employees to get flu shots and monitor their health.

“It is a lot or proactive assistance we provide to help them become more cognizant about their health and what they can do to be healthier,” she said.

Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, agrees that these types of measures pay back huge dividends.

“Employers know first-hand that a healthy workforce is essential to increasing productivity and to maintaining a competitive edge in the new global economy,” she said.

Newsweek magazine listed Unum number 52 among the 500 greenest companies in the U.S. It ranked Unum fifth among banks and insurance companies.

The news magazine commended Unum for voluntarily monitoring its greenhouse gases, its recycling and energy efficiency measures and its green building policies, including a $20 million parking garage due to be completed in 2010 that officials hope will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for its environmental practices.

Ms. Johnson, who has worked at the company for more than half her life, said she agrees with the praise bestowed on her employer.

“I wouldn’t have been here 33 years if I didn’t think it was the best place to work,” she said. “I’m real proud of where I work.”

Recognition

This year Unum has received accolades from a number of organizations in a variety of categories. Below is a list of honors the company has received in 2009.

* Best Employers in Tennessee

* Best Large Employer in Maine

* Best Place to Work in Insurance

* Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles

* Top 500 Green U.S. Companies

For a complete list of all the award and recognition Unum has received over the years, visit www.unum.com/aboutus/AwardsAndRecognition.aspx