The Chartered Insurance Institute is offering insurance professionals help to address their stress after 65 per cent identified heavy workloads as the greatest cause of work-related pressure.
Last month, the CII conducted a social media poll which revealed the second biggest cause of work-related stress for insurance professionals was limited development opportunities.
Around one in 10 of the 2,119 insurance professionals who responded to the survey felt regulation was their biggest worry at work and 8 per cent said consumer demands were the greatest cause of stress.
Mark Hutchinson, membership director of the CII, said: “The pressures of the pandemic, competition from contemporaries, job targets and the need to meet various demands at work has amplified stress among insurance professionals in recent years.
“Insurance is essential to everyone who wants to live their lives with protection against whatever the world throws at them. As a result, working in insurance is incredibly rewarding but can also be stressful.”
As a result, throughout April, which is National Stress Awareness Month, the CII is encouraging members to access, at no additional cost, the my healthy advantage smartphone app.
The app provides wellbeing resources including videos, guides, and webinars on a range of topics to support mental, physical and financial wellbeing.
The CII will also promote its partnership with Health Assured which allows all CII members to access a free 24/7, 365 days a year confidential helpline.
The helpline puts CII members in touch with qualified counsellors and advisers who will be able to support them with counselling support, legal guidance, bereavement support and medical information.
Hutchinson added: "If you're stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause and the CII is committed to helping members doing so and show them ways to take action to improve their wellbeing.
“Balancing everyday life together with the requirements of work and home can create pressures for all of us, which is why the Chartered Insurance Institute partnered with Health Assured, the UK and Ireland's largest award-winning employee assistance programme (EAP) provider, to bring our members a comprehensive and trusted wellbeing service.”
Earlier this month, the CII launched a career development platform called FutureMe for insurance and financial planning professionals.
The content on the platform is focussed on career development and was produced by the CII in partnership with Abintegro, a provider of career empowerment technology.
The CII said it is also updating and expanding its competency framework called the Professional Map to help insurance professionals identify the standards of professional competence they need at every stage of their career.
The map will include diagnostic tools for both individuals and employers to assess their own skills gaps and identify relevant solutions across qualifications, training, online learning and continuing professional development (CPD).
sonia.rach@ft.com
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