Service and Innovation Make Unum Number One|
By Unum Corporate Communication

This Fortune 500 corporation based in Chattanooga provides more than 100,000 businesses-representing 25 million workers-with innovative employee benefits and services. With $10 billion in revenues, Unum contributes generously to a wide variety of community organizations.

Despite its recognized position as a leading employee benefits provider in the United States and United Kingdom, Unum sees itself simply as "people serving people."

Thomas R. Watjen, Unum president and CEO, elaborates, "Our services and benefits are designed to help people during a difficult time when they are suffering from a loss of income due to illness or injury. However, we provide more than just a benefit check to claimants. Unum also is about helping employers as much as their employees."

Today, Unum is the nation's number one provider of disability insurance and group long-term care, and among the top carriers in voluntary workplace benefits and group life.

Unum's success can be attributed to its simple yet direct philosophy regarding claims. It begins with a thorough, fair, and objective evaluation of all claims to determine an appropriate decision. Once a claim is assessed and verified, Unum will pay benefits in a timely manner with a high level of service. Finally, Unum partners with its customers to help them return to work or independent living.

Heritage of Service
This philosophy has been the underpinning of the company since its creation as Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company in 1887 in Chattanooga. In 1998 the company merged with Unum Corporation, and it continues to set the pace of the industry with product and service innovations in employee benefits.

Still headquartered in Chattanooga, Unum has offices located around the country-in Portland, Maine; Worcester, Massachusetts; Glendale, California; and Columbia, South Carolina. Of its 10,000 employees worldwide, nearly 3,000 are in Chattanooga, making Unum one of the city's largest employers.

Innovative Approach
Innovation is a hallmark of Unum, and it starts with the company's approach to meeting employers' needs. Unum combines benefit choices, simplified administration, and cost-effective solutions that are integrated in one package to meet employees' diverse needs at different stages of life and financial situations.

While Unum can provide employees with a variety of benefit options, it also minimizes administration and eliminates redundancy and work for employers. The company uses state-of-the-art computer systems and is staffed by knowledgeable professionals to streamline the workflow process from enrollment to plan administration through claims processing.

"We believe that good benefits are good business-for any employer," says Watjen.  "Our goal is to provide benefit plans that help employees while helping companies build stronger workforces and ultimately more profitable businesses."
The competition to recruit and retain employees along with rising health care costs and changing workforce demographics create a challenging environment for employers of all sizes.  Unum understands these challenges.  It offers a range of robust, cost-effective benefit solutions that meet the needs of any organization. It can create flexible benefits packages that are company-funded, employee-funded, or shared to stretch an employer's benefits budget.

Community Benefits
As a leading benefits company, Unum is committed to its claimants, employers, employees, shareholders, and communities. Over the years, it has generously lived up to this commitment. In 2008 it contributed more than $6 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and United Kingdom, including $2.4 million to United Way.

In fact, Unum is the largest contributor to United Way in Southeast Tennessee. It also provides significant support to Allied Arts, the Siskin Hospital for Rehabilitation, the Siskin Children's Institute, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Unum's headquarters in Chattanooga also supports a partnership with the Hamilton County Department of Education. Through this partnership during the 2008-2009 school year, 15 Hamilton County schools have received two Promethean Teaching Systems each, 21 Unum employees served as mentors to middle school students, and more than $47,000 has been invested in classrooms.

Through the company's matching gifts program, in 2008 Unum employees in Chattanooga contributed nearly $470,000 to area schools and community organizations. In line with its commitment to public education, Unum also supports Junior Achievement, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library's reading program for preschool children.  Through its partnership with Urban League, Unum also sponsors an inter-city education program called STEM-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math studies. 

Watjen sums up his company's community involvement in this way: "We have a responsibility to not only offer exceptional products and services to our customers but also to be a company that benefits the communities in which our employees live and work.  I am proud of Unum's accomplishments and look forward to continuing our progress."