Senior Guidewire Developer

Zurich Insurance offers 'best of both worlds' with human-led digital loss support service. Zurich Insurance has partnered with Empathy to provide retail protection and corporate risk customers with a human-led digital bereavement support service. Supporting over 45 million policyholders globally, this partnership marks Empathy's first strategic collaboration in UK financial services. From today (14 April), customers will have access to personalised care plans, dedicated care managers for personalised guidance and secure digital tools to help manage the emotional and practical pressures that follow the death of a loved one. From June, this service will be extended to those diagnosed with a terminal illness. Later this year, Zurich LifeVault will also be available to retail protection customers, offering a secure digital space to plan their legacy, prepare wills and store important documents so their final wishes are clearly understood. Following the UK launch, Zurich Insurance intends to expand this service to other markets as part of a global roll out strategy. Speaking with Money Marketing, Tim Lewis, senior proposition manager at Zurich, highlights the benefits of both human-led and automated components: "Blending humanity with automation is the best of both worlds. "Administration adds to the grief so automation takes that burden and then there's compassion and that human touch when it's required." To support the launch of this service, UK-based claims handlers and protection consultants will receive 60 hours of specialist bereavement training. Looking at the impact of empathy on consumer trust, Lewis says, "I've worked in this industry for over 20 years and it's frustrating as someone who's passionate about these products when even friends and family think life insurers don't pay out. "Support services that go beyond the payout demonstrate we're not just here to pay the claimant. Customers will have access for up to two years beyond the claim". He explains that consumers increasingly expect compassionate, practical help during life's hardest moments with a third (33%) of those who've recently lost a loved one taking time off work to manage administrative tasks. Empathy's 'Cost of Loss' report also reveals that 57% say they would choose an insurer based on bereavement support and 92% prioritise employers that offer it. "Purchasing life insurance is the most selfless thing you can do. You're paying into a policy to financially protect your loved ones. "A service that goes beyond your death makes perfect sense and will help consumers understand the importance of life cover," Lewis adds. Ron Gura, co-founder & CEO of Empathy, said: "Partnering with Zurich Insurance is a significant milestone in its mission to transform the way families navigate life's most challenging moments - from loss and bereavement to the many complexities that follow. "Bringing that support to millions of families across the UK, at the scale this partnership makes possible, is something we're incredibly proud of. This is what meaningful, compassionate care looks like in practice." "When it comes to loss and bereavement, grief is just the beginning. There are funeral logistics, probate and estate administration, digital accounts to close and more when your life has just been turned upside down. "Empathy's services will provide our customers with the human care and digital tools to manage all this and more, so that people don't feel forced to move on but really helped to move forward," stressed Louise Colley, managing director at Zurich UK. "At Zurich, empathy isn't just a skill but a cornerstone of its business, and its partnership with Empathy is a continuation of its commitment to this. "With over half of the UK adults without a valid will and rising care demands being felt across the country, this strengthens our proposition to win in the market." James Tait, managing director of corporate protection at Zurich UK, added: "The inclusion of this service will help its customers to support their employees with compassion and care at arguably the most difficult time of their lives. "For employers, investing in bereavement services demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare while strengthening engagement and resilience across the whole company, which we know is a priority for our customers."

Zurich launches digital tool to reduce cancer risks. Zurich Corporate Risk has launched of a new digital tool, designed to help employees understand and reduce their risk of developing cancer. This assessment tool will be available to all group risk customers and is provided in partnership with Further. Zurich says this launch will help employers build more resilient and healthier workforces. It points out that the number of working-age people affected by cancer continues to grow, and it is now a major influence on the labour market. Around 890,000 people of working age in the UK are living with cancer, and this figure is expected to rise to 1.15m by 2030. In addition, more than one million working people act as cancer carers, placing further strain on employee wellbeing and productivity. It adds that cancer is consistently one of the top causes of claims on Zurich's group risk policies, with the impact of diagnosis extending far beyond treatment. Employees typically require around 15 weeks away from work, and this increases by approximately 50 per cent when cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage. With research showing that up to 40 per cent of cancers are preventable through healthier lifestyle choices, access to proactive, preventative information has become critical for employers striving to support their people. The new cancer risk assessment tool provides employees with a personalised view of their risk factors, along with practical, evidence-based guidance to help them make meaningful lifestyle changes. It also offers clear, accessible recommendations on screening and early detection, which are key to identifying cancer when it is most treatable. Zurich Corporate Risk head of market management Nick Homer says: "Cancer has a profound and lasting impact on employees, their families and the businesses they work for. "By giving people a personalised understanding of their cancer risk - and the steps they can take to help reduce it - we're empowering workforces to take proactive control of their wellbeing. This new tool enhances our commitment to supporting customers not just at claim stage, but throughout their employees' health journeys." Further CEO Frank Ahedo adds: "Cancer is now one of the leading causes of workforce disruption in the UK, yet up to 40 cer cent of cases are preventable. Employers who adopt structured, science-led risk assessment and prevention programmes not only protect their people and reduce avoidable absence costs, but also demonstrate decisive, long-term leadership in safeguarding the health and resilience of their workforce."