CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN & ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, also known as the Massachusetts FAIR PLAN, is an organization privileged and committed to providing property insurance, on behalf of the insurance industry, to individuals unable to secure insurance through the voluntary market. The term FAIR stands for Fair Access to Insurance Requirements. We take our responsibility as the FAIR plan very seriously and always aim to provide first class service and support to our insureds.

We believe in supporting and giving back to our community and staff through a wide variety of causes and resources. We take pride in our commitment to continuously work to expand and enhance our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan. We believe that our CSR initiatives reflect the core values of our organization. The FAIR Plan’s goals are to always look ahead and to strive to make a positive impact on our staff and in our community.

We promote charitable giving and volunteerism. We are always seeking to improve our organization’s policies in support of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment, and ways to minimize our environmental footprint.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES (ESG)

Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives (ESG) includes diversity, equity and inclusion, climate, corporate and social responsibility, and investment strategies. The FAIR plan has established the following Initiatives to support our ESG efforts.

  • ENVIRONMENTAL
    • The paperless submission of insurance applications and endorsements by applicants and insureds, as well as inspection reports, has become a hallmark of MPIUA’s goal of preserving the environment. Currently, MPIUA receives 99.9% of such documents, which total approximately 700,000 page equivalents per year, electronically;
    • Converting to EPA certified Smart Way Vehicles;
    • Two Center Plaza location is a LEED’s Building;
    • Paper recycling, as well as paperless submission and paperless internal workflows in each of the operating departments, and a plan to move to digital distribution processes, including electronic delivery of policy forms and other communications;
    • Hybrid work model to decrease travel and fossil fuel usage;
    • IBHS initiatives for home resiliency, particularly in light of climate change;
    • Promote electronic and other waste recycling through the Center Plaza sponsored recycling programs (i.e. gift cards as incentive);
    • Earth Day activities, i.e. tree planting;
    • Promote Employee use of Mass Save to reduce the usage and cost of fossil fuels.
    • Provide water filling stations and bottles to promote reusable bottles and reduce plastic use.
  • SOCIAL
    • The MPIUA workforce is diverse and inclusive with 45% of employees being female, and 30% of employees being a race or ethnic group identified as other than white.
    • MPIUA sponsored charitable and volunteer programs in place:
      • Dana Farber/Jimmy Fund
      • Habitat for Humanity
      • Walk for Hunger
      • ABCD Food Bank
      • New England Center and Home for Veterans
    • Support volunteer efforts to Massachusetts community based organizations working on racial, economic and social justice.
    • Promote employee participation in blood drives through Red Cross (i.e. Paid Time Off as incentive)
    • Provide an Association Matching Charitable gifts program which matches employee charitable contributions up to $250 per employee per calendar year.
    • Promote and provide insurance education for new homebuyers to close the racial homeownership gap through the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance as well as other similar groups throughout the state.
    • Promote home safety and loss prevention through annual and seasonal brochures and on the MPIUA website, such as notifications on fire safety, freeze ups and hurricane/winter storm preparedness. Additionally, the Association’s website contains links to Mass Save, for energy efficiency information, and the Institute for Home Safety to provide resilient building and loss mitigation information.
    • Participate in Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women events throughout the state, supporting several local chapters, providing education and making valuable connections.
    • Promote cooperation and assistance with State and local agencies for catastrophe preparedness and recovery as well as law enforcement agencies, including our longstanding Arson Watch Reward Program, Poster Contest, support for state police, fire investigation and bomb squad K-9’s, as well as other statewide fire safety events and programs.
    • Promote employee health and wellness through group health insurance, fitness and nutrition programs (i.e. Paid Time Off as incentive).
    • The Association has the capability of almost entirely 100% remote work and has recently shifted to a hybrid work model to promote our culture, as well as a collaborative environment while simultaneously supporting flexibility for a healthy work-life balance.
    • Promote and provide access to Financial Wellness Education and Financial Counseling.
    • Monthly Employee Newsletter that promotes engagement and connection to continue to cultivate an inclusive employment environment.
  • GOVERNANCE
    • The FAIR Plan is a statutorily-created association which is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of ten (10) Member Insurance Companies elected by the Membership, as well as two (2) licensed Insurance Producers and six (6) Public Members with diverse backgrounds and interests who are appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance.
    • Through its Executive Committee, the Board of Directors promotes the values of the Association by its oversight of the human resource function, including pay and pay equity, succession planning and enterprise risk management of the Association.
    • Through the Audit and Accounting Committee, the Board oversees the risks associated with accounting, auditing, internal controls and financial reporting, as well as the MPIUA’s Whistle Blower Policy which includes an anonymous hotline directly to the Committee Chair.
    • High among the Association’s priorities under enterprise risk management which is overseen by the Executive Committee is the risk of cyber security breaches. The Board of Directors and Management is fully committed to protecting the data privacy and the personally identifiable information of our customers and employees and has adopted and will continue to evaluate new technologies to achieve its security goals.
    • Consider the goal of diversity in all management succession planning within the Association;
    • Conducted survey and providing ongoing formal education to all employees on diversity, equity and inclusion;
    • Formed employee committee to make recommendations on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
    • Promote insurance education, primarily sponsored by the Insurance Library, for employees to provide for job advancement.