CII offers ways to overcome work-related stress

A social media poll of Chartered Insurance Institute members, conducted in March, revealed the second biggest cause of work-related stress for insurance professionals was limited development opportunities in recent times.

Roughly 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 Chartered Insurance Institute, 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.

"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.”

Throughout April, which is National Stress Awareness Month, the Chartered Insurance Institute will encourage members to access, at no additional cost, the My Healthy Advantage smartphone app.

The App provides a library of wellbeing resources including videos, guides, and webinars on a range of topics to support your mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

The CII will also promote how through our partnership with Health Assured, all CII members can 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, medical information and much more.

To assist those feeling trapped in their current roles due to limited development opportunities, the CII this month launched FutureMe, a career development platform for insurance and financial planning professionals.

The FutureMe platform includes details of the latest career opportunities and career development advice direct from expert career coaches and hiring managers.

The CII is also updating and expanding our 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 Professional 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) to ensure professionals have the skills, knowledge and behaviour they need to raise public trust in the profession and help consumers improve their financial resilience.