SCHAUMBURG, IL, Jan. 15, 2015 – As a top company that demonstrates leadership and innovation in engaging its employees, Zurich North America has been recognized as one of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in North America for 2015. The Achievers annual awards were announced this week, with an awards gala to follow in March.

“This marks our fifth year recognizing incredible, employee‐focused companies that are changing the way the world works, and we’re excited to honor them with this award,” said Cheryl Kerrigan, Vice President of Employee Success at Achievers. “These companies are setting the benchmark for standards in employee engagement by making engaging, aligning and recognizing employees a top priority, which sets them apart from their competition.”

The Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Awards panel of judges evaluated each applicant based on the Eight Elements of Employee Engagementâ„¢: Communication, Leadership, Culture, Rewards & Recognition, Professional & Personal Growth, Accountability & Performance, Vision & Values, and Corporate Social Responsibility.

“Employee engagement is very important to us because we know that highly engaged employees contribute greatly to the success of an organization,” said Brian Little, Head of Human Resources at Zurich North America. “We’re honored to be recognized for creating a culture at Zurich that aims to increase the potential of our employees.”

By listening to employees and gathering feedback, Zurich identified focus areas and developed plans to address where the company had the greatest opportunity to improve. Some examples of Zurich’s employee engagement efforts include a new-hire welcome experience; an enhanced rewards and recognition program that allows peers to recognize one another; team spirit days; celebrations where leadership shares employee accomplishments company-wide; listening forums to provide employees the opportunity to give feedback to leaders; and quarterly CEO information sharing sessions that all employees can attend to hear updates on financial metrics and the progress on business priorities.

In addition, Zurich’s corporate giving philosophy inspires employees to volunteer their time and talents to support local communities. The company works to create many opportunities during the year where employees can get involved and make charitable contributions.

“A key to achieving engagement is helping employees understand how their daily jobs connect to the overall business strategy,” said Tracy Lampert, Zurich North America Commercial Chief of Staff who oversees an Employee Engagement team. “We are creating a culture at Zurich where employees feel involved in the business, their views are heard, and their contributions are valued.”

The panel of judges included various academic and thought leaders on employee engagement, and included representation from organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Human Capital Institute, and Human Resource Executive.

Zurich North America will be honored alongside other recipients of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Award at an awards gala on March 11 at the Bellagio Las Vegas.

About Zurich
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With more than 55,000 employees, it provides a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. Zurich’s customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in more than 170 countries. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com.

In North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors through the individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company. Life insurance and disability coverage issued in the United States in all states except New York is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company, an Illinois domestic life insurance company. In New York, life insurance and disability coverage is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company of New York, a New York domestic life insurance company. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world go to www.zurichna.com. 2012 marked Zurich’s 100-year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees.

# # #

Media contact:

Blaine Krage
Zurich North America
Cell: 224.279.4178
blaine.krage@zurichna.com