Insurers reveal preparation for great resignation

Authored by CII

Amid the cost-of-living crisis and the post-pandemic great resignation trend, insurance professionals have revealed what they are doing to attract and retain talent.

A social media poll of 623 insurance professionals, conducted in June, revealed 44 per cent are mainly focussing on offering flexible working in a bid to attract and retain talent in the current climate.

Ensuring there are clear routes for career progression was identified by 23 per cent of those surveyed as the main way they are working to appeal to and keep top quality employees while 22 per cent said they were mainly investing in training and development.

Given the Bank of England’s prediction that inflation could hit 11 per cent, just 12 per cent of the insurance professionals who took part in the poll stated they were looking to increasing the benefits available to grab and hold onto staff.

Jonathan Clark, interim CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic and pivot to remote working, businesses must continue to evolve and invest in a way that attracts and retains their top talent.

“We are amid the great resignation and with remote working limiting learning through osmosis, businesses need to ensure they are continuing to train and develop their staff if they want to keep them engaged and equipped to meet the needs of the public.

“While it is great to see flexible working being offered, top performance can’t be achieved without wellbeing so it will also be key for firms to develop a culture where employees feel supported and equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviour they need to do their best wherever they choose to work from.”

This summer the Chartered Insurance Institute will unveil the Professional Map, a new competency framework for the insurance profession – covering not just technical knowledge but skills and behaviours expected of a professional now and in the future.

The Professional Map will benefit advisers by giving them a sector-wide standard of professional competence, informed by the market and aligned with regulatory and ethical standards, so everyone can see what good looks like and how to get there.