UnumProvident Introduces Compliance Resource for Small and Mid-Sized Companies

May 13, 2004
    Resource helps employers cope with challenging government regulations

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To help employers deal with increasingly complex state and federal compliance issues, UnumProvident (NYSE: UNM) will begin including a new service, HR Compliance Solutions, with new long term disability income protection policies for small and mid-market group customers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030929/CHM022LOGO-a )

HR Compliance Solutions is an extensive suite of resources that offers human resource managers a single, comprehensive guide to federal and state regulations, employment practices and policies. HR Compliance Solutions will be included at no additional cost in long term income protection insurance sold beginning June 1, 2004, to UnumProvident customers with 10 to 1,999 employees.

Nearly three-quarters of today's employers consider compliance with government regulations to be one of their greatest human resource challenges, according to a 2003 report from LIMRA International. For small to mid-sized employers, the challenge is compounded by limited staffing in human resource departments and dwindling budgets.

"These human resource departments manage everything from staffing, to payroll, to employee leave, to group benefit plans," said Mike Simonds, vice president of core market development for UnumProvident. "HR Compliance Solutions is a tremendous resource ... it is like adding a virtual compliance expert to the staff."

With HR Compliance Solutions, UnumProvident customers receive access to an online HR reference system for federal employment laws and compliance information for all 50 states, a professionally staffed helpline and weekly legislative updates. Purchased separately, similar services come with a typical price tag as high as $1,200 annually, according to Ceridian, a leading provider of these services.

"HR Compliance Solutions is just the latest example of UnumProvident putting our leadership to work for our customers," Simonds said. "Our group long term disability offering also includes a truly outstanding work-life balance employee assistance program and world wide travel assistance. We are focused on bringing affordable big business benefits to our valued small and mid-sized customers."

UnumProvident continues to lead the disability income protection insurance industry with innovative products and solutions for its customers. HR Compliance Solutions is provided to UnumProvident customers through its relationship with Ceridian, a leader in managed business solutions that maximize the value of people.

For more information about long term disability income protection from UnumProvident, visit www.unumprovident.com .

About UnumProvident

UnumProvident (UNM) is the largest provider of group and individual disability income protection insurance in North America. Through its subsidiaries, UnumProvident Corporation insures more than 25 million people and paid $5.7 billion in total benefits to customers in 2003. With primary offices in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Portland, Maine, the company employs more than 13,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.unumprovident.com .

UnumProvident is the brand name of UnumProvident Corporation's insuring subsidiaries.

SOURCE  UnumProvident Corporation
    -0-                             05/13/2004
    /CONTACT:  Mary Clarke Guenther of UnumProvident Corporation,
+1-423-294-6300, or mguenther@unumprovident.com /
    /Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030929/CHM022LOGO-a
              AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
              PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
    /Web site:  www.unumprovident.com /
    (UNM)

CO:  UnumProvident Corporation
ST:  Tennessee
IN:  FIN INS
SU:  PDT

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7690 05/13/200413:34 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com