Corporate Social Responsibility

MetLife’s purpose is to provide you with confidence in the future, by being a financial safety net if a tragic event impacts your life. We take this responsibility seriously and aim to treat our customers and our staff with care and empathy.

Across our business, we have a range of processes, practices and initiatives that support our purpose and guide how we operate. We know that the culture of our organisation is critical to making sure we do the right thing for our customers, our employees and the communities we serve.

Ethics at MetLife

We encourage our people to take responsibility for their actions and be part of building a positive culture. We make it easy for people to speak up and openly discuss the importance of operating ethically.

We make ethics an ongoing conversation with our people, by partnering with The Banking and Finance Oath, whose purpose is to raise the moral and ethical standards of the banking and finance industry. We regularly invite them to speak at staff events and actively encourage our staff to take the Oath themselves.

Reconciliation

Earlier this year we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan, which is a framework for how we are supporting national reconciliation. We are starting by building understanding amongst our staff and others in our sphere of influence, such as our business partners.

Mental health

We have partnered with SuperFriend, who work with organisations to achieve mentally healthy workplaces for their staff and customers. They provide our people with training to support their own mental health and the mental health of our customers.

We also have a claims philosophy that guides how we assess and pay claims, and ensures that we treat people fairly, especially during difficult times. Our staff are highly trained so they can communicate effectively and with empathy, to support customers.

Environment and investing

When it comes to protecting the environment, we have a range of actions and initiatives to support the long-term sustainability of the planet. In 2016 we achieved carbon neutrality globally and every year, continue to drive improvements with waste, water, energy, and carbon reductions.

For investing, we apply environmental, social and governance criteria, which informs where we choose to invest. Most recently, we have made a commitment to no new investments in mining and utility companies deriving 25% or more of their revenue from thermal coal, as well as companies that hold at least 20% of their oil reserves in oil sands. We also use our investments to make a positive impact on social through responsible investments, such as green buildings and renewable energy projects, and affordable housing.

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation partners with not for profit organisations and social enterprises to create financial health solutions and builds stronger communities across the world. Here in Australia this year, we have supported Foodbank Australia, Habitat for Humanity and Save the Children with donations.

We also support communities through our CSR Committee which works with MetLife Foundation to organise volunteering for our staff, giving them an opportunity to give back to the community. Staff are given one volunteer leave day each year and are encouraged to take this leave through MetLife organised volunteering.

Diversity and inclusion

We believe diversity and inclusion is vital to creating a workplace where people feel they can bring their whole selves to work. Our Diversity & Inclusion Committee develops our strategy for ensuring we are an inclusive organisation and supports a range of events that drive inclusiveness, including International Women’s Day, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Reconciliation Week, Wear it Purple Day and cultural events such as Chinese New Year.

To learn more about MetLife’s global ongoing sustainability efforts, visit our Sustainability website.