London and New York, March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The #MeToo campaign has heightened awareness of workplace issues and employee rights. Early intervention and mitigating action can be hampered because organizations may not provide suitable and effective reporting channels. As a result, often the first they know about workplace issues is when legal action is brought against them.
In response, specialist insurer Beazley has set up a free hotline for the employees of its employment practices liability (EPL) policyholders in the United States. Unlike some hotlines that offer little more than a voice-mail facility, Beazley’s hotline is available 24/7 and callers can speak immediately to a call-handler and can choose to report issues anonymously if they prefer. It is intended to encourage early reporting, in turn enabling early detection of issues and ultimately reducing the prospects of litigation.
The hotline adds to the range of risk management tools, such as expert HR advice and employee training on preventing sexual harassment, which Beazley’s EPL policyholders can access through its online risk management platform, BeazleySure.
Paul Nash, EPL focus group leader at Beazley, says: “In our experience, some employees are reluctant to report sexual harassment or other complaints unless they can be certain that the reporting channels are anonymous and that complaints can be made free of reprisal.
“Sometimes all that’s needed is one complaint to reveal an endemic problem within an organization. The earlier senior managers become aware of an issue, the sooner mitigating action can be taken. We see our new hotline as a win-win for employees and employers.”
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Note to editors:
Beazley plc (BEZ.L) is the parent company of specialist insurance businesses with operations in Europe, the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Australia. Beazley manages six Lloyd’s syndicates and in 2017 underwrote gross premiums worldwide of $2,344 million.
All Lloyd’s syndicates are rated A by A.M. Best.
Beazley’s underwriters in the United States focus on writing a range of specialist insurance products. In the admitted market, coverage is provided by Beazley Insurance Company, Inc., an A.M. Best A rated carrier licensed in all 50 states. In the surplus lines market, coverage is provided by the Beazley syndicates at Lloyd’s.
Beazley is a market leader in many of its chosen lines, which include professional indemnity, property, marine, reinsurance, accident and life, and political risks and contingency business.
For more information please go to: www.beazley.com