An enhanced mobile app, new perks, and additional mental health content are to be added to Unum’s group income protection, critical illness and life policies.
Unum, through its partnership with Lifeworks, will broaden the services it provides to include savings such as digital card discounts, cashback and lifestyle offers, as well as an education service on mental health, delivered through articles, podcasts and tool-kits.
Its group risk customers will also have access to a 24/7 suite of work and life support services at no extra cost.
This comes after research from Unum, which surveyed 2,004 employees in February, found one fifth of customers valued ‘soft perks’ and as many as 31 per cent wanted to see retail discounts included in their package.
Glenn Thompson, customer solutions director at Unum, said: "We work collaboratively with our customers to understand the problems they face and create benefits to meet those needs.
"As part of this commitment, we are further developing and enhancing the services we provide over the coming months so we not only stand ready to protect people financially, but are also increasingly committed to supporting the broader aspects of employee wellbeing."
Mr Thompson added access to the resources would be freely accessible to anyone covered by Unum’s financial protection policies and available 24 hours a day.
He said: "Employees can find themselves spinning many different plates — money worries, maintaining a work-life balance, career concerns or family issues.
"Lifeworks provides support and resources to help manage these issues. Our aim is to enable each person to take control of their wellbeing on their own terms."
Roy McLoughlin, associate director at Cavendish Ware, said: "As the industry evolves thankfully far more notice is now being taken regarding mental health issues, which after all are one of the two biggest causes of absenteeism.
"Unum is to be applauded for expanding and developing their offering and advisers should be integrating these benefits at the heart of their advice process."
imogen.tew@ft.com
