Discrimination
’Tis the season to receive claims about Christmas parties
Ho ho ho, it’s the season when alcohol flows and employees let their hair down after a busy year. Frances Stebbing explores what cover employers should have in place to ensure that Christmas parties don’t cause financial headaches.
Using algorithms to underwrite commercial and specialty market risks
Analysis: Harry Curtis examines the applications of algorithmic underwriting in commercial and specialty insurance, what role the approach leaves for human underwriters, and what challenges it presents.
LCP’s Drummond on the power of speaking out
Far from silencing her, Catherine Drummond, a partner at LCP, shares how the hate mail she received as an LGBT+ woman has spurred her on to encourage others to speak out and share their own experiences of barriers they have faced.
How Link’s co-founder was warned being gay would hinder his career
Erik Johnson, active underwriter at MIC Global Syndicate 5183, on the prejudice he faced as a gay man entering the insurance industry and how he ignored warnings pushing for inclusion could hinder his career to co-found Link.
Sedgwick’s Armstrong on bringing your authentic self to work
Suzanne Armstrong, deputy head of key accounts at Sedgwick in the UK, on how a female colleague being denied compassionate leave spurred her on to be her authentic self at work and break down LGBTQ+ barriers.
FCA outlines plan to make insurance more inclusive
The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority has finally published plans to make the insurance industry more diverse and weed out bullies and harassers.
RSA buys DLG’s commercial lines business for £520m
It was announced last night that RSA and Direct Line had struck a deal that both businesses claim will boost their bottom lines.
Who is responsible for ending the insurance poverty premium?
Analysis: Social Market Foundation research shows insurance is increasingly unaffordable for those on low incomes; news editor Scott McGee examines who is responsible for preventing a “poverty premium” being charged.
Insuring the new working world
Sam Barrett explores how the insurance industry is adapting employers’ liability insurance to reflect the risks associated with new ways of working post-Covid.
Martin Lewis tells FCA to investigate insurers
Campaigning journalist Martin Lewis called on the Financial Conduct Authority to urgently investigate whether travel insurers are making fair decisions about customers with mental health problems – and to punish those that are not.
Diary of an Insurer: Zurich's Caroline Dunn
Caroline Dunn, chief underwriting officer of Zurich UK, learns from customer complaints, is humbled by LGBTQ+ colleagues sharing their experiences and unites with brokers to push for regulatory consistency.
Clegg Gifford employee wins age discrimination case after being told he has been around ‘as long as Pontius Pilate’
A Clegg Gifford & Co employee, who has worked in the industry “a great many years”, has won age discrimination case after his boss claimed he has been around “as long as Pontius Pilate”.
Swiss Re loses discrimination case after boss made sexist remarks to underwriter
A former junior underwriter at Swiss Re has won her sexual discrimination suit against the company, after she was wrongfully dismissed following sexist comments from her boss.
Citizens Advice ethnicity penalty campaign a ‘wake up call to FCA’
Citizens Advice ethnicity penalty report must be "a wake up call to the Financial Conduct Authority” to act on its promise to HM Treasury as insurers face warnings the fallout from this could be as far reaching as the Test Achats gender ruling.
Briefing: Lloyd’s finally proves its mettle on harassment clampdown with record fine
Lloyd’s of London has now proved it is willing to walk the walk as it fined Atrium £1m over harassment and bullying charges.
Lloyd’s fines Atrium record £1m for harassment and bullying charges
Lloyd’s managing agent Atrium has been fined a record £1.05m after it accepted three charges of misconduct by its employees, including senior executives.
Analysis: Mind the gender health insurance gap
Post investigates allegations of gender discrimination in health insurance and asks how concerns could be addressed
Allianz unveils transitioning at work policy
Exclusive: Allianz Holdings has launched a transitioning at work policy across its UK businesses, including Allianz, LV, Petplan and Home & Legacy.
Blog: A call for LGBTQ+ allyship in our organisations
Lisa Bartlett, Crawford president, UK & Ireland, calls for the insurance sector to encourage LGBTQ+ allyship.
Blog: Do NDAs stop insurance staff from flagging workplace discrimination?
Claire Dawson, partner at specialist employment law firm BDBF, considers how employers are using non-disclosure agreements – and what insurance employees should do if they have been harassed or discriminated against at work.
Intelligence: The impact of making Covid vaccines mandatory
With the roll out of Covid-19 vaccines under way, and firms saying they might require them to be mandatory for their staff, Post investigates what impact this could have on insurance
Briefing: Lloyd’s culture survey results no beacon
While Lloyd’s Culture Survey 2020 results show a modicum of progress, ethnic minorities’ and women’s experiences continue to drag – even before considering the pandemic impact.
CMCs expect soaring Covid-19 caseload as employees and public lodge claims
Covid-19-related lawsuits are set to drive a 40% increase in litigation over the coming year, with many claims management companies either already dealing with or anticipating a surge in claims.