Revealing that it has expanded its bereavement and probate service, MetLife aims to focus on the importance of employers and employees alike to provide a network of support for a bereaved colleague.
Support available has expanded in tandem with its Group Life policy in order to provide up to six face-to-face counselling sessions, as well as calling attention to the phone counselling service available to families and the terminally ill on a 24-hour-a-day basis.
The firm has launched a toolkit which they believe will benefit intermediaries and employers as well as employees. This consists of guides, advice and videos in order to deal with the potential impression a bereavement may have within a workplace. It is also applicable in various circumstances, providing advice for support where an individual employee has lost a loved one as well as where a colleague has died.
Over half (56%) of employees stated they would consider resigning if an employer was unsupportive during their time of need according to research conducted by the National Council for Palliative Care.
Studies from MetLife itself indicate great support for programmes designed to assist employees and provide counselling upon bereavement as well as other issues. Just over three quarters (76%) express that they value Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) provided through group risk products.
Describing variance in the personal state of employees following a bereavement was Tom Gaynor. The Employee Benefits Director at MetLife UK mentioned the significance of a structure being put in place which can offer employers and staff compassionate support:
“Employee assistance programmes provided alongside group life policies can play a major role in helping employers and employees come to terms with their loss and are clearly valued by staff.”
“Enhancing our Group Life offering makes sense and we hope the toolkit will help raise awareness in the industry of the need to focus on bereavement and probate support.”
