Corporate Responsibility
We’re here so you can Live Life Well Protected
Union Mutual was founded nearly 150 years ago on the promise of ‘neighbors helping neighbors,’ and the Company recognizes the importance of extending that intrinsic value as a responsible corporate citizen, through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, to all aspects of our business.
A cornerstone of our Company culture and a large factor in our 10 consecutive Best Places to Work in Vermont awards is our commitment to community through financial and volunteer support – our employees are actively engaged in our mission and dedicated to helping our neighbors Live Life Responsibly.
In Partnership with One Tree Planted
To honor our commitment to responsible business practices, we have partnered with One Tree Planted to donate $1 for every eligible policy delivered electronically, saving up to 60 sheets of paper per policy and One Tree Planted plants a tree! Watch the video at left to learn more.
A Champion of Social Responsibility
In 2020, Union Mutual became a Champion Member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), signaling our continued alignment with focusing on the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity, as well as diversity in leadership and our talented employee base. As one of 22 Vermont companies to achieve Champion Member status through a VBSR Board approval process, Union Mutual is in the company of iconic state and national brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, King Arthur Baking, Seventh Generation and more with our forward-thinking business practices. Union Mutual not only actively participates in, sponsors, presents and makes available VBSR educational and networking programming, the Company is directly involved in shaping that content with a representative on the Events & Education Committee.
What Being a Good Corporate Citizen Means to Union Mutual
As a values-driven company, Union Mutual has long been devoted to the greater good. In 2022, we implemented an employee-led ESG Committee, designed to identify, execute and promote opportunities to improve our business practices with a focus on social responsibility. This interdepartmental Committee has implemented a Company-wide educational series, partnered with One Tree Planted in a 1-for-1 program to promote paperless delivery of policy documents, networked with other local socially-responsible businesses and more.
What Our Employees Say
“Community & family values. I love to help in any way I can and having that opportunity through my employment makes it easier to fit in my schedule and have my children learn the values and help as well. Union makes me a better person.” – Union Mutual Employee
“The focus on trying to always work towards being a better place to work that cares about its people and takes their complaints and concerns seriously sets Union apart from many corporate competitors.” – Union Mutual Employee
Measuring Our Progress
Our Charitable Giving Fund and agency-directed giving programs support non-profit organizations in all seven states we write business in, highlighted by over $80,000 in sponsorships of local events in 2022. Our premier event, participation in the Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics VT, has raised nearly $500,000 since 2016!
Worldwide, 1 million plastic water bottles are bought every minute – we encourage the use of reusable bottles, which can prevent an average of 156 plastic bottles from filling the world’s oceans.
We review our investment portfolio to balance social responsibility with profit
Over $20,000 donated and countless hours of employee volunteer time dedicated to Green Up Vermont
Lead sponsorship of Corporate Cup Challenge headlines 4-time Gold Worksite Wellness Award honors
40 billion plastic forks, knives and spoons are used & thrown away each year. Union Mutual switched to compostable utensils in 2022 to reduce our part in this number.
40% of our Board of Directors & 50% of our Executive Leadership are female
156-panel solar array at the home office generates equivalent of planting roughly 1000 trees annually.
Transitioning Company fleet to hybrid models, saving an average of 10 mpg per vehicle – over 2,600 gallons of gas in 2022!
Company-wide initiative to go paperless – reduce printing; increase use of e-signature & EFT payments; encourage use of digital/smart notebooks.
Environmental
With the implementation of compost and closed-loop recycling programs, installation of a solar array at the Montpelier home office and transitioning Company vehicles to hybrid fleet, Union Mutual is committed to making the right decision for the planet as well as for the business. We are proud to partner with One Tree Planted to expand our paperless initiative in addition to offering a credit for digital delivery of policy documents.
Social
The cornerstone of the Company’s robust charitable giving program is the Union Mutual Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund that provides future growth opportunities. The Company is proud to be the lead sponsor of Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games & top fundraiser for Penguin Plunge. Union Mutual is proudly committed to several multi-year support initiatives, including of Clear Path for Veterans New England; National Life’s Do Good Fest; the Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge & State Agency Race; the University of Vermont Medical Center; and more. Additionally, Union Mutual’s generous volunteer incentive for employees and preferred vendor selection based on aligned socially responsible values illustrates the Company’s commitment to putting its values into meaningful action.
Governance
Union Mutual’s diverse leadership team and Board of Directors are involved in overseeing the Company’s governance, including elements of strategic planning, risk management, regulatory concerns, and its investment portfolio. Union Mutual continues its Company-wide focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, incorporating DEI and ESG considerations into the Company’s strategic plan. Ongoing monitoring of the Company’s enterprise risk management, including cyber risk and security, continue to guide employee education and governance decisions. In partnership with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), the Union Mutual Board of Directors participates in valuable governance training, specifically tailored to the needed expertise of insurance boards.
CSR in Action: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Union Mutual believes in the importance of insurance in the most basic terms – to pool resources to be able to financially support a neighbor in their time of need.
During the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related “stay-at-home” mandates, we saw tremendous uncertainty among our community as to how small businesses – the core of our customers – were going to be impacted. We could also see the potential impact on our employees as our staff went remote and the culture that we had worked so hard to create in our home office building, was disrupted. It was in this spirit that our Corporate Social Responsibility program reacted.
