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Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report a
AMP 8007
Our Work to Improve Lives and Communities
2012 Corporate Citizenship ReportDifference Makers
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Reportb
At Unum, we make a difference in the lives of millions of people each year.
We have a Commitment to bring financial protection to workers and their families.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 1
We are dedicated to making our Communities better places to live and work.
Our Culture is based on accountability and excellence.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 1
Every day at Unum we work to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s the foundation of our
business to provide financial protection benefits to individuals and families during some of the most
challenging times of their lives.
But making a difference is a part of our culture that extends beyond our commitment to individuals at
claim time. We demonstrate this by supporting the communities in which we live and work, advocating
for public policies that will strengthen the financial safety net for workers in the U.S. and the U.K.,
creating a rewarding workplace for our employees and becoming better stewards of our environment.
In this citizenship report, you’ll learn about some of the ways in which we make a difference in society
and our communities.
It all starts with the commitment we have to providing individuals and their families with the financial
protection benefits they need to better cope with the loss of a loved one or the inability to work due to
illness or injury. That need has never been greater, as people struggle to adapt to the changing economic
environment. And with many living paycheck to paycheck, it’s important to know they can count on
Unum when the unexpected occurs. In fact, our benefits specialists worked with hundreds of thousands
of our customers on claims filed last year, resulting in Unum paying more than $6 billion in benefits.
The past few years have been difficult ones for many people, and we are keenly aware of the fragile
financial position that so many workers find themselves in today. We continue to build on our public
policy efforts to underscore the value of workplace financial protection benefits, as we see firsthand
how crucial these much-needed backup plans are to individuals and their families.
From the CEO
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report2
Thomas R. WatjenPresident and Chief Executive Officer
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 3
That commitment to meeting the needs of others is also a key part of our company culture. We’ve
built our reputation on caring for others, and, as a result, we have the same standard of compassion
and excellence in the workplace. We’re committed to providing opportunities for our nearly 10,000
employees to grow personally and professionally, find a healthy balance between work and personal
life and excel to be the best.
Giving back to our communities is also a natural extension of the commitment we make each day to
our customers. In 2011, we contributed more than $12 million to charitable organizations in the U.S. and
the U.K. This includes nearly $2 million worth of volunteer time from our employees to organizations
that are important to them.
We are very fortunate as a company to be in a strong financial position, and our good fortune helps
propel our efforts as a good corporate citizen and neighbor. In reading this report, I hope you are as
impressed with the commitment of our employees as I am.
Sincerely,
Thomas R. Watjen
President and Chief Executive Officer
We are very fortunate as a company to be in a strong financial position, and our good fortune helps propel our efforts as a good corporate citizen and neighbor.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report4
Difference Maker:Krista Workman Disability Benefits Specialist
“ Each day I strive to find ways to better provide protection to our customers in times of need: whether it’s going the extra mile to expedite the processing of a claim, or simply calling a customer to provide him or her with an update. Our benefits help protect workers and their families when dealing with situations beyond their control. I take pride in doing my job and being part of a company that takes financial protection seriously.”
– Krista Workman
Commitment
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 5 11
Meeting the need for financial protectionAt Unum, we’re in the business of helping people
through difficult times in their lives. By offering
disability, life, and voluntary insurance benefits
through the workplace, we provide individuals and
their families with the financial security they need to
better cope with the loss of a loved one or the
inability to work due to illness or injury.
The need for what we do has never been greater. The
economic downturn has left consumers, businesses
and governments all struggling to adapt. Most people
have neither the personal savings nor insurance
protection to provide for themselves or their families
should a life-changing event occur. Businesses need a
partner to help them keep up with the ever-changing
benefits landscape. And governments, faced with
mounting deficits, increasingly struggle to provide
a safety net for their citizens, requiring individuals
to take more personal responsibility for their own
financial security.
Our products and services are uniquely positioned to
address this pressing societal need. By partnering with
employers to provide valuable benefits through the
workplace, employees gain access to the coverage
they need to help protect their income should the
unexpected occur. And as more employees gain this
coverage, research has shown that governments will
spend less on public assistance programs.
In short, we’re committed to meeting the needs of our
customers and helping all of us find ways to address
the very real challenge of providing a financial safety net
for employees and their families in today’s economic
and political environment.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 5
Commitment
About 70%of
private sector employees lack long term disability coverage.
People need a financial safety net…More than 60 percent of American workers live
paycheck to paycheck and are ill-equipped to cope
financially if they miss work due to illness or injury.
Only one in 10 private sector workers in the U.K. has
a backup plan in the event illness or injury prevents
the employee from working.
These and other startling statistics point to a gap in
our financial safety net. Because many of us don’t
have the protection we need should the unfortunate
occur, we often look to the government to catch us when
we fall. But as pressure on public resources mounts,
government at all levels finds itself increasingly unable
to fund these public assistance programs adequately.
Preparing for the unexpectedIn many ways, the economic challenges of the past few
years have inspired new perspectives on what’s really
important. More and more, we’re asking ourselves
how the things in life that we cannot predict — such as
illness, injury or death — can impact our ability to take
care of our family, effectively manage our business or
take care of our responsibilities.
That’s why it’s critical for both employers and
individuals to make sound decisions today that prepare
us to meet tough times tomorrow. Employee benefits
are among the most essential elements of a sound
financial foundation. Rising health care costs and
continued economic pressure leave employers seeking
cost-effective, sustainable benefit plans that provide
their employees the right mix of financial protection
benefits such as disability, life, accident and critical
illness insurance. At the same time, employees need
access to affordable coverage that strengthens their
financial stability.
In short, finding a partner who can help both employers
and their workers gain access to the financial protection
benefits they need has never been more important.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report6
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 7
…and Unum is ready to helpAt Unum, we have the tools people need to secure
their financial future. Across the markets we serve,
most consumers lack basic financial protection. The
workplace is the most effective avenue for access to
affordable coverage. The benefits we provide and
the work we do to make them broadly available
offer tremendous value to businesses as well as the
individuals they help protect.
Meeting the needs of individualsOur disability, life and voluntary insurance products help
people weather some of the most difficult experiences
of their lives, whether that means the loss of a loved
one, absence from work because of injury or illness or
managing the financial costs of accidents or medical
diagnoses.
• Our disability benefits pay a portion of a covered
individual’s salary while he or she is unable to
work due to an illness or injury.
• Our life insurance pays a benefit to a loved one
in the event someone passes away.
• Our voluntary insurance helps workers pay out-of-
pocket costs associated with accidents, hospital
stays, critical illnesses and cancer that even the
best major medical insurance won’t cover.
When people lose the ability to work or provide for their
families, employer-sponsored financial protection benefits
are often the only things that allow them to live without
relying on government provided benefits. Private benefits
are often used to help pay regular bills and living
expenses, assist with one-time or unexpected costs
or pay for funeral expenses. In fact, last year we paid
$6 billion in benefits to our customers, providing support
that protected the financial stability of millions of people.
Being a partner for businessesThe broad range of Unum’s product and service offerings
makes us a versatile and valuable benefits partner. We
are always seeking the best ways to offer coverage that
protects people and strengthens businesses.
• Our insurance products offer caring employers a
powerful way to ensure their workers have access
to the benefits they need.
• Through our leave management and other
HR-related services, we help businesses manage
the often complex processes of federal and state
leave regulations and other compliance issues.
• Our stay-at-work and return-to-work programs
help manage an employee’s successful transition
back into the workforce.
We take pride in our work as a valued source of expertise
and guidance for employers and their employees. By
acting as a reliable resource for those we serve at a
time when it can be tough to know which way to turn,
we play a crucial role in protecting the things that
matter most.
Only 1 in 10
private sector workers has a backup plan if injury or illness prevents the employee from working.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report8
Commitment
Research that advocates changeAs a leader in employer-sponsored financial protection
benefits, Unum recognizes it has a responsibility to help
educate people on the importance of a financial safety
net and to encourage dialogue among private, public and
nonprofit sectors to ensure people are protected financially
in the event they cannot work. One of the ways we’ve
spurred dialogue is by sponsoring research about the
economic impact of employer-sponsored benefits.
Making workplace benefits more availableA recent study done in partnership with Charles River
Associates, a leading global research and consulting
firm, showed employer-sponsored benefits like disability
insurance can lessen the burden on public assistance
programs funded by taxpayers.
Income protection benefits provided through the U.S.
workplace can protect as many as 575,000 families a
year from impoverishment and save the government
up to $4.5 billion a year by reducing pressure on the
public safety net. These figures, and estimates for life
insurance that are even higher, point to the social welfare
gain for both consumers and the government if more
people had access to financial protection coverage,
especially at the lower- and middle-income levels.
Encouraging individual responsibilitySimilar research conducted by Charles River Associates in
the U.K., as well as by Demos, a respected British think
tank, showed that the British government could achieve
similar savings if more employees had access to group
income protection coverage. And it pointed out that
changes to the structure of the welfare system that would
encourage access to workplace benefits could have a
significantly positive impact on the economy.
A more recent study, conducted by the Institute for
Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex
and funded by Unum, identified the frequency people
leave work for injury-related reasons and the financial
consequences Britons face when they are forced to
withdraw from the labor market for health-related
reasons. The report found that 76 percent of those
who leave work for health-related reasons are still
unemployed 12 months later and 30 percent of those
who leave work due to illness or injury entered poverty.
“ The importance of financial protection
benefits is a critical public policy issue and
we want to be a part of that discussion.
It’s our goal to lead the discussion on
ways the private sector can work with
governments to make sure coverage
remains available and affordable for
working Britons and Americans.”
– Scott Maker, senior vice president of Government Affairs
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 9
Engaging public institutionsFinancial protection benefits play a critical role in society,
and access to these valuable benefits is the most
effective way to ensure those who need it most can
create a meaningful financial safety net for themselves.
That belief is the driving force behind our efforts to build
relationships with key policymakers in the U.S. and U.K.
In 2011, these attempts gained momentum as we
continued to lead the discussion about the value of
financial protection benefits.
Working with lawmakersIn the U.S., our leaders worked with U.S. Sens. Kay Hagan,
D-NC, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, to create the
first congressional caucus on income protection and
employee benefits. The Senate Income Protection
Benefits Caucus will help raise awareness about the high
risk of disability and reinforce the need for education
and discussion on income protection. It will also react
to related congressional proposals. We hope to have
the same impact by encouraging the formation of a
similar caucus in the House of Representatives.
Unum executives have also been called as expert
witnesses to appear before Congress and executive
and administrative agencies on the issue of financial
protection benefits, the cost of welfare programs and
how the public and private sectors can work together
on these issues in a more
meaningful way.
In the U.K., we continue to work to
create awareness within the government on
the importance of income protection and the value in
providing workplace access to these benefits for working
people and their families. Regular meetings with key
decision makers in Parliament give us the opportunity
to discuss additional taxpayer savings if more citizens
obtained private income protection coverage.
Partnering with other stakeholdersIn addition to working with lawmakers, Unum also
partners with key stakeholders in the U.S. who share the
company’s interest in making sure lower- and middle-
income working individuals are adequately protected
in the event of a disability. For example, we recently
partnered with the Consumer Federation of America
to conduct a joint survey on the issue of disability and
will work with the organization to promote solutions
based on the survey results.
Membership in trade associations such as the Financial
Services Roundtable, the American Council of Life Insurers
and America’s Health Insurance Plans also provide
opportunities for our voice to be heard.
CEO Tom Watjen speaks with
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa,
and stresses the importance
of income protection benefits
and the need for the private
insurance industry and the
government to work together
to expand coverage.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report10
Difference Maker:Nicola Sisk Senior Account Manager
“ It wasn’t until my husband was faced with a potentially fatal bone marrow disease that I truly understood that Unum was such a special place. As an employee, the company and my coworkers gave me the flexibility I needed to be at my husband’s side during the long treatment process. And because I had critical illness coverage for myself and my husband, I experienced firsthand the caring claims process I’ve heard us talk about. It’s safe to say that we couldn’t have made it through as well without the support of my Unum family.”
– Nicola Sisk
Culture
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 11
A dynamic and transparent culture A commitment to serve — that’s what it means to
be a Unum employee. We’re a company that has
built its reputation on helping people through some
of the most difficult times of their lives. As a result,
we expect our employees to have a similar standard
of excellence and an understanding of the impact
they can have on someone else’s life.
Our success is the result of our 10,000 employees
throughout the U.S., U.K. and Ireland as they work
daily to meet the needs of our customers and make
a difference in the communities we call home. To help
make that possible, we’re committed to providing a
workplace where employees can grow personally
and professionally — where they can take good care
of our customers, as well as themselves. That’s why
we place a priority on health and wellness and
encourage our employees to continuously improve.
This emphasis on the whole person makes Unum a
rewarding place to work.
Our company is also dedicated to doing what is right.
We operate with integrity and an ever-present focus
on the customer, making balanced business decisions
that meet the highest standards of accountability. Our
employees are knowledgeable, caring and ethical.
They are a reflection of our values, and they’ve made
us who we are today.
Whether it’s our customers, coworkers or communities,
we are proud to be a company
that cares.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 11
Portland 29%Chattanooga 26%Regional Offices 18%Columbia 10%
United Kingdom 9%Worcester 6%Glendale 1.5%Ireland 0.5%
Where we work
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report12
Pushing ourselves to be the bestAt Unum, our company and its reputation are only as
good as the employees who represent us. That’s why
we place a high value on our workers and give them
the tools they need to become the very best they can
be. The bar is set high, and our employees willingly
stretch themselves to achieve excellence.
We offer many programs designed to help employees
discover and develop their talents. In fact, each one of
our business areas has a dedicated training department
that develops curriculum and cultivates staff for key
positions within the business. Our employees enjoy
access to financial support to help pay for college
tuition, membership in associations that provide
specialized training and attendance at professional
seminars. In addition, we offer specialized programs
to develop aspiring leaders, new managers and
employees who want to expand their personal and
professional skills.
Recognizing successPart of encouraging our employees to be their best is
rewarding those who excel. Whether we showcase
employees’ efforts in a company newsletter or
recognize them through awards and advanced training
opportunities, we want them to feel truly valued for
their contributions.
With our Aspire flagship recognition program, we
applaud the good work of our top individual performers
by sending them to an annual development and training
event held at Walt Disney World in Florida. While there,
nominees learn about customer service from some of
the country’s foremost authorities, meet peers from
other offices and participate in a community service
project. And when they return, these employees teach
others what they’ve learned and how to create an
exciting work environment and better meet the needs
of our customers.
Culture
Unum employees logged a total of
452,253
learning hours.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 13
Finding the right balanceWe know a career is just one part of a person’s life.
And helping employees achieve a balanced life
requires a holistic approach that focuses on the whole
person. That’s why we’ve created an environment at
Unum that helps employees balance the demands
of our high-performance culture with those of their
daily lives.
To take good care of others, people must also take
good care of themselves. We provide an extensive
number of programs and policies designed to enhance
a healthy work-life balance that include:
• Health benefits, such as medical coverage, free
flu shots, an around-the-clock nurse call line and
onsite health resource centers.
• Wellness benefits, such as onsite fitness facilities
and lactation rooms for nursing mothers.
• Work-life balance benefits, such as a free employee
assistance program, a generous paid time off
plan, alternative work arrangements and financial
assistance for adoption.
• Financial benefits, such as financial and retirement
planning services.
And for life’s more difficult moments, Unum provides
support in a number of ways. We offer time off for the
death of a loved one, legal and emotional support for
survivors, stress management assistance, and budgeting
and debt counseling for our employees.
The bottom line — we want employees to be at their
best when they come to work each day. That benefits
our employees, our company — and equally important —
our customers.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 13
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report14
Culture
Maintaining good business practicesCorporate transparency and good governance are
principles we take very seriously.
Good governance begins with our board of directors,
which works through several standing committees
to engage management on a host of governance
issues, including executive compensation, regulatory
compliance and business practices.
Our Code of Conduct Our Code of Conduct guides our actions and decisions,
and more importantly, ensures we have a work
environment where ethics are front and center.
Our Code focuses on:
• How employees should conduct themselves with
each other and our customers;
• Following sound business practices that ensure
we comply with regulations and operate with
accountability; and
• Keeping medical and other private customer
information confidential and secure.
Supplier diversity We are committed to promoting fair business practices
through our procurement and supplier diversity
programs and seek to do business with those who
share our values of integrity, quality and efficiency.
We are also a corporate member of the National
Minority Development Council, and a member of
several regional councils. Our memberships allow us
to increase our exposure and subsequent spending
with minority- and women-owned businesses.
Ensuring compliance Unum is subject to national and state regulatory
oversight in the U.S. and U.K. To make sure we meet
these regulations and put our customers first, we have
built in a series of strong internal controls. In our U.S.
businesses, which are primarily regulated by each
state, we:
• Meet with regulatory agencies regularly
and respond promptly to any requests
for information;
• Review our product information to ensure
it accurately represents what we offer;
• Continually evaluate the effectiveness of our
compliance programs through compliance officers
and through regular reviews of businesses and
claims practices; and
• Work with trade associations and industry
groups to develop standards for regulation
of the insurance industry.
Unum was recently recognized by the Center for Political Accountability for leadership in political spending and disclosure and accountability practices. The Center was created in 2003 to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political spending.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 15
In the U.K., we make sure our products and the
information describing them are designed and written
to meet customer needs. This is consistent with the
Treating Customers Fairly initiative of the Financial
Services Authority, which requires companies to adopt
policies and practices that clearly outline product
offerings and benefits for customers.
Managing risk We’re in the business of helping protect people
from the risks that illness and injury can pose to
their livelihoods. To do that effectively, however,
we must take the same approach to managing risk
effectively in our business — and managing risk is
every employee’s responsibility.
At Unum, risk management is second nature. While
day-to-day risk management efforts are led by our chief
risk officer and key leaders in our business, through a
number of committees and built-in business processes,
people from throughout Unum are engaged in:
• Managing insurance and operational risks within
each of our businesses;
• Reviewing the health of our investment portfolio
and making decisions consistent with the direction
of our company;
• Monitoring and planning how to best use our
capital to ensure we have the resources to
operate effectively and take advantage of
opportunities as they arise; and
• Indentifying other risks to our company.
In addition, our business continuity program prepares
Unum to continue operations when events such as
natural disasters, operational incidents, health crises
or terrorist attacks impact our normal business operations.
Regular exercises make sure that our reactions will be
timely and effective.
“ We rely on a strong risk
management culture. Our senior
management and board recognize
that risk management can only be
successful if it’s embedded in daily
decisions throughout the firm.”
– Mike Temple,
senior vice president, chief risk officer
To commemorate 25 years as
a publicly traded company on
the New York Stock Exchange,
CEO Tom Watjen and other
company leaders ring the NYSE
closing bell to end trading.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report16
Difference Maker:Eamonn Lawler Programmer Analyst
“ Volunteering for these organizations becomes such an important part of your life. Once you’re in, you’re in forever. Seeing the good that they do for so many kids who need it, you just can’t back away from being part of that. Working here, if you need a hand there is always someone willing to help out, to give their time or donate supplies or money. Around the office, everybody does something to help these organizations, and they’re all very quiet about it.”
– Eamonn Lawler Lending Hands Volunteer of the Year Award in
Ireland, and Corporate Volunteer of the Year
Communities
Making a difference for communitiesFor more than 160 years, our commitment to help
others when they need it most has guided not only
our business practices but also our approach to giving
back. In fact, we believe our company and employees
play important roles in helping to make our communities
better places to live. Through our outreach programs,
hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals
are helped each year by the donations we make and
the volunteer efforts of our employees.
In 2011, Unum contributed more than $12 million to
worthwhile causes throughout the United States and
United Kingdom through corporate and employee
giving, in-kind contributions and volunteer hours. Most
of these donations and volunteer activity focused on
four areas of emphasis — education, disability, health
and wellness, and arts and culture — that we believe
have a major impact on the vibrancy of our communities.
You’ll read about some of these projects on the next
few pages.
Whether it’s providing protection to more than
25 million people worldwide or lending a helping
hand to someone in need, Unum is a company of
people serving people. It’s how we make a difference
for our customers in our communities.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 17
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report18
Communities
It’s a girl thingIn Worcester and Chattanooga, our employees help young
women learn the skills, tools and confidence to develop as
leaders and role models through a partnership between
Unum and Girls Inc.
A product of this collaboration has been the development
of Unum’s Girls Leadership Academy, a program in which
employees in Worcester mentor girls in grades 10 through 12 on
important life skills not learned in the classroom. The program
has seen tremendous success. “Unum’s leadership program has
been identified by Girls Inc. National as a best practice program for
achieving impact with high school girls,” said Girls Inc. of Worcester
CEO Deb Hopkins. “Efforts are now under way to replicate the model
in additional communities nationwide.”
In Chattanooga, funding from Unum gave girls from low-income households the
opportunity to attend educational camps, afterschool programs and Unum’s Road to
College and Success program at Brainerd High School. In addition, Unum IT employees hosted 28 girls for two
days of technology sessions. The girls, ages 6 to11, were exposed to technology in Unum’s computer lab and
got hands-on experience through educational games and websites.
“Statistics show there are fewer women being educated and employed in technology jobs,” said Beth Lyon,
a system manager for Unum. “These sessions expose girls to technology fields women are currently working in
today. It allows us to lay the groundwork that generates interest in computer science and spreads enthusiasm
for the work we do at Unum.”
Education builds strong communitiesEducation is the backbone of our society and the
foundation of the communities we call home. That’s
why we are committed to improving the educational
outlook of children and young adults in our hometowns
and beyond. From Glendale, California, to Dorking,
England, we believe the more opportunities students
have to learn, the more successful they’ll be at
becoming responsible and productive citizens.
Helping young adults realize their potentialUnum has been a longtime supporter of Jobs for Maine’s
Graduates (JMG), giving time and money to help students
in Maine discover their individual talents, develop
skills and seize opportunities to achieve their
personal potential.
In 2011, Unum employees served on JMG’s board of
directors, chaperoned the overnight Urban Adventure
held at Unum, and volunteered at the Career
Development Conference and several other events
throughout the year with JMG students, helping to
prepare them for a bright future.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 19
The mentoring work of our employees in Portland goes
well beyond our partnership with JMG. Students from
Skillin Elementary and Memorial Middle schools visit
our campus each week to have lunch with employee
mentors, ensuring they have a positive adult role model
in their lives. Unum employees also make a difference
in the lives of students through the Portland Mentoring
Alliance. For 20 years, our employees have been matched
with high school students looking for college, career
and personal guidance.
Preparing assistant principals for top leadership rolesIn Chattanooga, our partnership with the Hamilton County
school system remains strong. Since 2008, Unum has
funded grants that support educational opportunities for
42,000 students at 78 schools. Unum also supports the
Principal Leadership Academy. The goal of the Academy
is to train prospective principals in the county school
system on how to be strong leaders and effectively
manage their schools. To date, 23 aspiring principals
and two first-year principals have participated in this
innovative program.
In addition to the monetary contribution, Kathy Owen,
Unum’s chief information officer, has served as a principal
mentor along with five of our other executive leaders.
By sharing many of the leadership traits we learn in the
business world, we believe we can help the leaders of
our local schools increase teacher effectiveness, manage
resources and provide a vision for their schools.
Sharing what we know Colonial Life is a long-time sponsor of South Carolina
Business Week, a program that lets students interact with
business leaders and student peers to learn more about
the business world and what it takes for a successful
career. In 2011, a Colonial Life gift gave seven students
the opportunity to participate in the program free of
charge. In addition to the corporate support, Bill Harmon,
assistant vice president of Underwriting for Colonial Life,
volunteered his time to spend a week with the students
as a company advisor. Harmon mentored the students
and helped them learn and come together as a team
to collaborate on real-world business situations similar
to what they may face upon entering the workforce.
Bringing the arts to lifeUnum has a rich history of supporting the arts in our
communities. We work with diverse organizations
that embrace the arts to bring creative and cultural
opportunities to children who wouldn’t otherwise have
access to them.
Bringing music to life for students For the past several years, Unum has supported the Youth
Concerts at the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO). Each
year, our corporate support gives more than 14,000
students ages 8 to 12 the opportunity to attend a concert
and hear a live symphony, often for the first time. The
students are introduced to diverse styles of music while
learning about the elements of orchestral music and
musical instruments. The PSO provides participating
schools with lesson plans and recordings, along with
post-concert feedback mechanisms.
Students from 40 school groups in the Chattanooga
area also have the opportunity to enjoy orchestral music
through a partnership between Unum the Chattanooga
Symphony and Opera (CSO). The partnership makes
it possible for the CSO to perform for students free of
charge. The concerts are designed to reinforce music
education through an inspiring and authentic live
performance experience.
Enhancing local attractionsColonial Life managers renovated a picnic area in
Columbia in partnership with the Riverbanks Zoo &
Gardens and The River Alliance. The project, which
included dismantling and removing worn tables and
installing new ones, provides school groups and
families with a place to picnic and enjoy the zoo or
Three Rivers Greenway.
Teaching the importance of art and cultureUnum has supported the Worcester Art Museum for many
years with its efforts in arts and culture education. In 2011,
Unum’s partnership with the museum gave students
from South High Community School access to a variety
of educational experiences. From traditional studio art
classes and creative writing courses to interdisciplinary
instruction and art history lectures, students who
typically wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience
the arts were exposed to it in hands-on, interactive
ways. The partnership also gave the students free
admission to see the museum’s world-renowned
35,000-piece collection.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report20
Unum has a rich history of supporting arts in our communities to bring creative and cultural opportunities to children and adults who might not otherwise have access to them.
Communities
Helping people with disabilitiesAs the largest provider of disability insurance in the United States and United Kingdom, we know the effects living
with a disability can have on people of all ages. That’s why we’re committed to making sure people with disabilities
get the help they need to make life better.
Going the distance to support local respite careIn the United Kingdom, Unum employees raised more
than £35,000 (USD $56,000) for Vitalise, a national
charity providing respite care and other services for
people with disabilities and their caregivers.
The main fundraiser for the charity is a three-day, 164-mile
“Site2Site” running and walking relay event in which more
than 200 Unum employees participated. Our employees
were accompanied for part of the way by a team from
Vitalise during the event, which passes through each of
Unum UK’s three sites in Bristol, Basingstoke and Dorking.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by Unum’s support over the
past couple of years,” said Linda Duberley, director of
fundraising and communications for Vitalise. “Unum’s
staff have come up with some fantastic and inventive
ideas for fundraising events and thrown themselves
with gusto into fundraising for us. In return for their
efforts, we pledge that the money raised will go toward
our vital work supporting people with disabilities and
their caregivers in urgent need of respite.”
Training man’s best friend to assist people with disabilitiesIn Chattanooga and Worcester, employees have the
opportunity to train and socialize young dogs in an
office setting, preparing them to be obedient assistant
dogs in the future. The “Dog at Your Desk” program
supports the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy in
Chattanooga and NEADS Dogs for Deaf and Disabled
Americans in Worcester. Employees keep the puppies
on a short lead while going about their daily workday
routine. Assistance dogs that successfully complete the
program graduate and are matched with a person with
a disability.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 21
We’re committed to making sure people with disabilities get the help they need to make life better.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report22
Caring for the well-being of our communitiesBy devoting volunteer support and resources to
initiatives that focus on the health and wellness of
individuals, Unum contributes to the broader well-being
of our communities. From fighting hunger to teaching
our employees CPR, we continue to make a difference
in the lives of others who could use a helping hand.
Making the basics available to allIn 2011, Unum employees once again showed their
compassion and willingness to give, answering the call
to donate food and money during a one-day, enterprise-
wide food drive. More than 41,000 pounds of food was
collected for local food banks and community kitchens
throughout the U.S., U.K. and Ireland. In addition,
employees and the company together donated more
than $40,000 to help these organizations provide food
for those less fortunate.
Elena Schmidt, director of development at Preble
Street in Portland, says the organization is doing well,
in no small part due to all the ways Unum employees
pitch in by volunteering, donating and holding food
drives. “I was amazed when I realized how many
departments at Unum are involved in some way with
the food drive,” said Elena. “We’re so grateful for such a
deep commitment to the welfare of our communities.”
In Portland, with funding provided by Unum, the Good
Shepherd Food Bank was able to expand its backpack
program to support four additional local elementary
schools during the 2011–2012 school year. The program
provides children who are suffering the effects of
chronic hunger with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food
to eat during weekends and school vacations when
those crucial school meals are unavailable.
Throughout the years, Unum volunteers have also
been a common sight at local food banks, soup
kitchens and pantries. Whether they are cooking and
serving food to homeless or low income individuals and
families or stocking shelves at local food pantries, our
employees contribute thousands of hours of time to
help others in need.
Helping others in the wake of devastating tornadoesFor residents in the Chattanooga area, April 27, 2011,
will be a date they won’t soon forget. More than 10
confirmed tornadoes hit the tri-state area, leaving
thousands without homes and causing billions of
dollars in damages.
Unum partnered with the American Red Cross, Salvation
Army and United Way to provide assistance to victims.
The company contributed $100,000 in financial aid,
and employees made more than 2,100 sack lunches
for people in the hardest-hit areas. In collection drives
across the company, employees donated money,
cleaning supplies, bottled water, food and baby care
items to help those in need. And many Chattanooga
employees volunteered with the American Red Cross,
Salvation Army, Chattanooga Area Food Bank and
other community and church organizations to provide
assistance to storm victims.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report22
Communities
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 23
Minimizing our impact on the environmentWe are a company founded on commitment, whether
it’s to our customers, our investors, our employees or the
environment.
Our environmental stewardship reflects an underlying
dedication and responsibility we have to the places
where we live and work. We’re committed to mini-
mizing our impact on the environment because we
know the steps we take benefit the health and
well-being of everyone — whether that’s now or for
future generations.
Since 2008, our sustainable business practices have
reduced our water consumption by 18 percent and
our energy costs by 8 percent. And we’re continually
working to find new ways to improve our sustainability,
whether it’s through increasing energy efficiency in our
offices or implementing new recycling programs such as
the one in the U.K. that helps employees coordinate
recycling efforts across all our U.K. locations.
Another way the company emphasizes its green efforts
is through the members of the Green Team — a group
of more than 150 employees across the enterprise
who volunteer to lead sustainability efforts among
their coworkers.
Sustainable structures For more tangible evidence of Unum’s environmental
commitment, look no further than our offices and
parking decks.
Our main office building in Columbia became the first
Unum facility to receive ENERGY STAR certification,
signifying compliance with strict standards for energy
conservation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Two of our buildings — a tenant structure in New York
and a parking garage in Chattanooga — are currently
under consideration for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design certification. And when the Unum
building at CitySquare in Worcester is completed later
this year, the 200,000-square-foot structure will be
eligible for LEED silver and gold designations due to such
features as recycling stations, spaces to park bicycles,
ENERGY STAR appliances and motion sensors in offices
to conserve power.
Green purchasing We’re also committed to making purchasing decisions
with the environment in mind. We promote
environmentally conscious manufacturers in the U.S.
by using products that are recycled or can be reused
— without sacrificing quality, safety or effectiveness.
And our commitment to conservation doesn’t end
there. We’re developing a Global Corporate
Sustainability Plan to integrate our green goals
across businesses to make sure we’re always
working toward a more sustainable company.
We’ve been included in the Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes for our work in managing sustain-ability and carbon management.
In 2011, Unum was ranked 78 out of 500 U.S. companies in Newsweek’s annual green rankings, up more than 100 spots from 2010.
Since 2008, Unum has reduced its energy costs by 8 percent, saving the company almost $1 million.
We’re one of only five insurance companies named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North American Index.
Energy Reductions
Carbon Footprint
17%
EnergyReduction
14%
Water Consumption
18%
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 23
2011Awards and Recognition
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report24
150 Most Reputable Companies Forbes magazine
Newsweek Green Rankings Newsweek magazine
Best Places to Work in Insurance Business Insurance magazine
Consumer Equality Index Human Rights Campaign
Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles National Business Group on Health
Best Places to Work in Maine Best Companies Group
Top Places to Work in Massachusetts The Boston Globe
Gold Status Unum UK Investors in People
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report 25
All about Unum Colonial Life is one of the nation’s leading providers of voluntary worksite benefits —benefits for employees and their families that are sold through the workplace. Colonial Life’s market leadership has been built on establishing one-to-one relationships that educate employers and their employees on the benefits they have, as well as any benefits they may need to provide financial protection where they need it most.
Unum UK is a leading provider of income protection in the U.K. With only one in 10 workers covered against sickness or disability, the company is working to raise awareness among consumers of the need for a backup plan. Unum UK is creating new and different ways to give access to financial protection benefits to all workers, breaking down the barriers that have prevented broader coverage for so many years.
Unum US is the U.S. market leader in both group and individual disability insurance, as well as one of the largest providers of group life and voluntary benefits — products that play a crucial role in protecting the financial stability of millions of individuals and families.
Unum 2012 Corporate Citizenship Report26
Unum Group1 Fountain SquareChattanooga, TN 37402
www.unum.com
NT-1080 (5/2012)
© 2012 Unum Group. All rights reserved. Unum is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Unum Group and its insuring subsidiaries.
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