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TRAVELERS ANNOUNCES PAYING IT FORWARD SAVING PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYEES SAVE FOR RETIREMENT WHILE TACKLING STUDENT DEBT
Company Release – 2/25/2019 2:41 PM ET
HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) has announced an innovative new benefit for its employees that takes the tough choice out of paying down student debt or saving for retirement.
With The Travelers Paying It Forward Savings Program, payments by eligible U.S. employees toward their student loans will qualify for the company’s 401(k) Plan “matching” program.
The new program will help tackle two of the biggest financial challenges Americans face today: getting out from under the burden of student loan debt and building healthy savings for retirement.
“We have the most talented workforce in our industry and benefit immeasurably from the education and expertise they bring to their work,” said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers. “Yet many of our colleagues all too often struggle to save for retirement because student loans weigh so heavily on their finances. Investing in their education shouldn’t stop our employees from investing in their future. We are promoting a standard of employee care that enables them to do both.”
According to the Federal Reserve, student loan debt in the United States reached more than $1.5 trillion at the end of 2018. Starting to save early is key to a healthy retirement fund, yet the Fed’s latest Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households noted that 41 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they had no retirement savings. The report also highlighted that 42 percent of those who attended college, representing 30 percent of all adults, have incurred at least some debt for their education.
As part of its leading benefits package, Travelers currently has a “matching” program for employee contributions to 401(k) accounts. Beginning in January 2020, when The Travelers Paying It Forward Savings Program takes effect, student loan payments will also be taken into account when determining the company’s 401(k) contribution.
Employees, including those who are not in a position to contribute at all to their 401(k) accounts because of student loans, who participate in the new program could accumulate tens of thousands of dollars in their 401(k) accounts over a decade, which could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at retirement. That demonstrates the importance of starting to save for retirement early in order to realize the benefit of compounding returns over time.
Travelers hires thousands of employees each year under the age of 35, most of whom have college degrees and many of whom have advanced degrees.
“This program is truly life changing for those of us who are chipping away at our debt and still trying to build for our futures,” said Sasha Kashalapov, a user experience designer who joined Travelers in 2018 with a degree in visual communication design. “It speaks volumes about how a company that cares about its employees invests in their personal well-being and success.”
Blake Perry, a claim manager at Travelers, said, “In a long list of initiatives I’ve seen Travelers implement to support and invest in employees during my nine years with the organization, I believe this is among the most impactful of them all. I look forward to participating fully!” Blake joined Travelers in 2010 and has a degree in political science as well as an advanced degree in law.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $30 billion in 2018. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190225005944/en/
Media:
Matt Bordonaro, 860-277-7014
mbordona@travelers.com
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
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TRAVELERS NAMED A 2020 MILITARY FRIENDLY® COMPANY
Company Release – 12/16/2019 9:00 AM ET
HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today announced it has been recognized as a Military Friendly® Company by VIQTORY, publisher of G.I. Jobs. Travelers is one of 76 companies to earn the designation, which is given to organizations that meet or exceed standards in at least three of four categories:
Recruiting, hiring and training of veterans (Military Friendly® Employers).
Recruiting, hiring and training of military spouses (Military Spouse Friendly® Employers).
Partnering with and supporting veteran-owned businesses (Military Friendly® Supplier Diversity Programs).
Commitment to military consumer protections and having a positive brand reputation in the military community (Military Friendly® Brands).
“Veterans and military service members bring a unique and valuable set of skills to the company,” said Diane Bengston, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Travelers. “Fostering an environment of inclusion is a priority for us, and we’ve been focused on offering programs, benefits and services that resonate with and support military families.”
Travelers demonstrates its military-friendly commitment in a number of ways, including its:
- Military and Veterans Diversity Network, a resource group focused on building awareness of veterans’ skills and experiences. Since its launch in 2013, the network has grown to more than 3,100members nationally.
- Support of American Corporate Partners, a national nonprofit focused on helping veterans discover their next career. The partnership began in 2010 and has helped to create life-changing mentorships between Travelers employees and hundreds of post-9/11 veterans.
- Benefits for employees deployed on active duty, which include benefits continuation and leave-of-absence policies. The company provides full benefits and supplements employees’ military pay for up to five years of their deployment.
- Involvement in Recycled Rides, a program managed by the National Auto Body Council that brings together insurers, auto repair shops and others to donate refurbished vehicles to those without reliable transportation.
The company has also signed the Statement of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at both state and national levels, reaffirming its commitment to service members and their families.
Travelers has earned recognition from VIQTORY for its military-friendly culture for more than a decade and has been named a Military Times “Best for Vets” company since 2014. The Military Friendly® lists are compiled each year based on extensive research using public and government data sources and responses from a comprehensive survey completed by each company. To view the full list, visit militaryfriendly.com/2020-mfc.
To learn more about Travelers and its commitment to recruiting military service members, visit careers.travelers.com/military.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $30 billion in 2018. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190225005944/en/
Media:
Matt Bordonaro, 860-277-7014
mbordona@travelers.com
Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
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TRAVELERS NAMED 2019 EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR FOR DISABILITY HIRING
We are so excited to announce that Travelers has been named 2019 Employer of the Year by Lifeworks for our disability hiring initiatives!
Lifeworks, a Minnesota not-for-profit that supports individuals with disabilities, selected Travelers from about 400 companies that currently partner with the organization. Travelers’ partnership with Lifeworks extends back several years, beginning with the Business Insurance Document Management team, where both parties worked together to provide employment opportunities for candidates with disabilities.
The efforts in disability hiring that stemmed from this relationship have grown, and in 2017, Travelers launched a four-week training and work-experience program for people with disabilities, centered around our Staff Counsel Business Resource Center. Since the start of this program, more than a dozen individuals have secured full-time positions with Travelers, serving as legal operations specialists.
These initiatives are prime examples of the diverse and inclusive work environment we are dedicated to fostering at Travelers. We are also proud to be named:
- 2019 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor
- 2019 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality by Human Rights Campaign
- 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity by Diversity Inc.
- 2018 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by Disability Equality Index
- 2018 Best for Vets Employers by Military Times
- 2019 Military Friendly Employers by Military Friendly
We know the importance of pushing past boundaries and having a workforce that represents the perspectives and ideas across race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information and sexual orientation. For more information on our D&I initiatives, click here.
You can also stay informed about our diversity and inclusion efforts by connecting with us on social media.
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OPENING DOORS FOR YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH MENTORING
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in a young woman’s life,” reflects Lorie Darrow, Business Insurance and Women in Actuarial and Analytics (WIAA) member. Through WIAA and the Travelers Women’s Diversity Network, Lorie and about a dozen other members from the two groups mentor students at Grace Academy, an independent and tuition-free middle school for girls from underserved families in Hartford, Connecticut.
Each week, they spend their lunch hour with the seventh- and eighth-graders, providing social and emotional support. They also help them prepare for high school, college and professional life by sharing personal experiences and engaging in activities. Over the last three years, Lorie has worked with some of the same students this school year as the mentoring commitment continues throughout the duration of the students’ time at Grace Academy.
“I am very proud to be a part of Travelers and our hands-on community outreach that fosters education and strengthens our commitment to diversity,” added Elena Antonetti, Legal Services, and Women’s Diversity Network member. “Programs like this are invaluable in helping students to think about their future. They also give us a chance to introduce more women to careers in insurance and law.”
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