UmialikXpress
Agency Bulletin
March 16, 2020
An Update on COVID-19 Precautions at Umialik
We’re reaching out with some updates as it relates to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), which – like many of you – Umialik and Western National Insurance Group are carefully monitoring. As the COVID-19 situation evolves, it is crucial that we at Umialik continue to maintain our same high standards of service to policyholders and agency partners while also protecting the safety and wellbeing of our employees. It’s with these needs in mind that we are announcing the following updates to our typical business operations and practices involving agents and policyholders:
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In-Person Visits to/From Business Partners Suspended Until April 30
Out of an abundance of caution, to reduce the likelihood of in-person transmission, we are temporarily suspending all non-essential in-person visits or travel by either (a) Umialik employees to business partner offices, or (b) business partners to Umialik’s offices. Throughout this time, your Umialik contacts will continue to be available by phone or email (and this will remain true even as more employees may begin teleworking). In-person visits are currently scheduled to resume May 1, but we will be regularly re-assessing that timeframe to ensure everyone’s ongoing safety. -
Claims, Underwriting, and Loss Control to Seek Alternatives to In-Person Visits and Inspections
Whenever Possible
Since our business necessarily involves assessing risk, providing risk improvement services, and responding to losses, there may be some situations where one of those can’t be accomplished without an in-person visit (i.e., for an on-site survey or an interaction involving direct contact by one of our staff or someone on our behalf). However, our plan is to find substitutes for in-person contact, or to delay non-time-sensitive visits, whenever a good alternative option is available. For those situations that do require in-person contact, we are taking measures to protect the wellbeing of our customers via requiring proactive hygiene and social distancing measures by our staff.
Our staff remain dedicated to serving you throughout these unprecedented and challenging times. With the benefit of preparation, our staff is properly equipped to work remotely as needed. As a result, we expect uninterrupted access to the people, systems, and services on which you and your clients rely from Umialik.
Above all, the most important thing is that you, your family, and your colleagues remain safe and healthy. Your wellbeing is very important to us, so please do what you can to take care of yourself and those around you. We will remain in communication with you as the situation evolves, and as we all work to respond in a safe, measured, and effective way to this virus.
Sincerely,
Umialik Insurance Company
Western National Insurance Group
