Corporate Social Responsibility

New York Life has released its 2019-2020 Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s efforts to be a force for good in society. The report also showcases how New York Life’s commitment to pursuing positive environmental policies, connecting with and serving communities, and maintaining proper governance is embedded in the company’s long-term strategy.

In setting New York Life’s Corporate Responsibility priorities, the company identified and assessed the potential environmental, social and governance issues that could affect the company’s business. The report identifies four priority areas for the company including:

Our People

• Talent Attraction, Retention, and Development: Developing and supporting our employees and agents through training and benefits.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Cultivating and supporting a workforce that is diverse in background and thought.

Our Communities

• Community Engagement: Empowering our communities and giving back through our time, talent, and resources.
• Financial Security and Inclusion: Ensuring financial stability is accessible, sustainable and offering responsible products and investments.

Our Environment

• Emissions Reductions: Taking responsibility for minimizing our carbon footprint and reducing emissions where possible.
• Energy Reductions: Committing to protecting the environment and reducing consumption.

Our Governance

• Ethics: Upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior and best practices in our operations and governance.
• Public Policy Practices: Responsibly and transparently engaging with the government to promote informed public policy.
• Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: Protecting private information and personal data against all attacks.

In his introduction to the report, New York Life CEO Ted Mathas writes:

“When you’re in business for 175 years, people often wonder how you are able to do it and what sets you apart. While many factors play into longevity, looking back at New York Life’s history, nothing else has distinguished us more than the fact that we have remained a mutual company. This decision continues to define who we are and guides our decisions and actions in our business and our broader responsibilities in society…While the products and services we offer deliver the social good of financial security, our corporate responsibility initiatives are also closely tied to our business purpose.”

In addition to reporting on progress across New York Life’s corporate responsibility priorities, the 2019-2020 Corporate Responsibility report also details the company’s COVID-19 response including:

• Establishing the Brave of Heart Fund at E4E Relief, which provides financial support in the form of charitable relief grants to help the families of healthcare workers who lose their lives to COVID-19.

• Enabling New York Life agents and employees to nominate extraordinary community members who embody the value of love taking action in the face of COVID-19 for the Love Takes Action Awards. Thirty-five community members from across the nation were honored and each honoree selected a nonprofit to receive a $50,000 grant, amounting to a total of $1.75 million—to mark New York Life’s 175th anniversary.

• Ensuring the safety and security of employees, agents and policy owners through programs and commitments designed to help these stakeholders navigate the pandemic with confidence.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done on these fronts,” Mathas adds. “But the bar is always getting higher, and we know we must continue to raise it for ourselves. Our value of integrity means doing the right thing no matter what. And we are humbly confident that we will continue to learn from experience to better support and uplift each other, our communities, and society at large for generations to come.”

To view New York Life’s 2019-2020 Corporate Responsibility Report, visit here.

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