More than 90% of the insurance firm’s staff participated in a survey that led to certification. Ninety per cent (90%) of those participants said Berkley Australia is a great place to work. The firm agreed to share some of the staff survey responses with Insurance Business.
“The words of Mark Twain embody the principles that guide how we conduct business ‘Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest,’” said Sydney-based Matt Rawle, national senior facilities underwriter.
Rawle said he was “proud” to be part of a successful, respected award winning company.
“Not only is it successful,” he said. “It’s also diverse, inclusive and fosters an innovative culture where your ideas are actively and genuinely welcomed.”
Rawle said, “above all,” this all happens in an environment where people feel supported and valued.
In his survey response, senior claims adjuster, Darren Quek (pictured immediately below), expressed appreciation for Berkley Australia’s genuinely friendly workplace.
“Berkley is a Great Place to Work, it is about being part of a world class organisation with similar high performing and results orientated colleagues whom you are comfortable to call a friend,” said Sydney-based Quek.
Jo Thorsen, the firm’s Perth-based business support officer, said everyone is part of the team.
“We share the same work values even though we are all different,” said Thorsen. “For me the people are what make Berkley unique and a great work environment.”
Claire Keating (pictured top right), is Berkley Australia’s head of human resources, Asia-Pacific. She told Insurance Business that the ethos of her firm is driven by a desire to keep improving.
“Our people are our competitive advantage,” said Sydney-based Keating. “Our belief is that ‘Everything Counts, Everyone Matters’.”
She said being recognised by an industry authority and the firm’s employees as a great place to work “is important in a world where candidate attraction and employee retention are more competitive than ever.”
The next step, said Keating, is interpreting the data. She said the firm is looking at “the huge amount of metrics” from the survey and working with a senior consultant from Great Place to Work to identify key areas to focus on.
“One area will be to compare our scores and benchmark these against Australia’s Best Workplaces, to understand what “Great” looks like and what we need to do to keep improving,” said Keating
According to the Great Place to Work website, its certification is based on employee feedback that is evaluated through a “rigorous and data driven methodology.” The organisation says it has surveyed more than 100 million employees across 60 countries since starting in 1992. The firm uses what it calls a “culture management platform” which, it says, “empowers leaders with real-time reporting and insights.”
Brokers who work with Berkley Australia are probably not surprised by the firm’s certification. One of the biggest current issues for brokers is slow insurer turnaround times. However, BIA manages to buck this trend.
“Our 24-hour turnaround time is still the major focus of our customer service strategy and we aim to outperform this target wherever possible,” said Tony Wheatley, BIA’s Sydney-based CEO in a recent IB interview.
In March, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) reported that the number of consumer complaints against insurers was rising at an alarming rate: a 65% increase compared to the same time last year.
Most of the 17,000 complaints, according to AFCA, concerned delays in claims handling across a range of insurance products. “We have seen a concerning decline in insurers’ responsiveness trends,” said Emma Curtis, the regulator’s lead ombudsman.
However, in contrast, Berkley Insurance Australia (BIA) said it has “very few issues” reported to AFCA and has not received an adverse AFCA determination since starting operations in 2018.
What do you think makes a Great Place to Work? Please tell us below
Insurance Australia (BIA) and Berkley Re Australia, as a “Great Place to Work”.
