Insurers Deploy Zombies, Free Beer to Woo Talent
June 29, 2017 by Jay Cooper
Zombie videos, Ferris wheels, graphic novels, “happiness gurus” and free beer … It’s anything goes as insurers seek creative ways to find new talent and dispel the notion that their industry isn’t a fun one to work in. So reports The Wall Street Journal.
Given the wave of employees headed for retirement, insurers have little choice but to take extreme measures to find talent fast. The industry employs roughly 2.6 million, according to the article, but must hire 500,000 new employees over the next several years, as a large swath of current employees retire.
Insurers admit that some prospective employees think it might be a boring line of business, but some companies are taking steps to liven up their image.
The article highlights several innovative initiatives at Acuity Insurance. The insurer posted an online video portraying its employees working after a zombie apocalypse, which provided humor but still touted many of the insurance company’s benefits. Acuity has brought in ping-pong tables, a Ferris wheel, climbing wall and fitness center to brighten the work environment. The company also sponsors twice-monthly happy hours.
Allstate, meanwhile, has tried to improve the work environment with a “happiness guru” in a building where many of its data scientists work, according to the article.
At ReSource Pro, a company providing processing and advising services to insurers, CEO Dan Epstein co-wrote a graphic novel, “Tomorrow’s Insurance,” to teach employees about the industry changes from data analytics and machine learning.
ICW Group Insurance Cos. took a creative approach to recruiting through videos. Last year, when “mannequin challenges” were popular online, it filmed one of its own employees.
Other insurers are livening up the work environment by changing the physical locales, the Journal reports. Insurers including Allstate, Liberty Mutual and MassMutual have put data scientists, app developers, and other employees in separate offices in neighborhoods popular with startups, the article says. MassMutual’s location, Haven Life, offers free beer anytime.