Social Responsibility
We’re deploying the strength of our operations, products, services and investments to deliver impact for our people, customers, and communities.
For more than 157 years, MetLife has helped generations of people build a more confident future. We have the experience, global resources, and vision to provide financial certainties for an uncertain world.
As one of the world’s leading financial services companies, MetLife’s business helps create a positive impact for our customers, people, shareholders, communities, and the environment by aligning the company’s sustainability objectives with its purpose and business mission. Through product innovation, the work of MetLife Foundation, our corporate giving, employee volunteering efforts, and meaningful partnerships, MetLife colleagues work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world.
Social Topics
For more information about MetLife’s current efforts, visit the latest Sustainability Report or download MetLife’s Policies & Benefits and medical plan information for U.S. employees.
As one of the world’s leading financial services companies, MetLife plays an important role in caring for our communities. We support our communities through our corporate efforts, philanthropy through MetLife Foundation, impact investments, employee engagement and volunteering.
MetLife aims to give every colleague the tools, resources and opportunities they need to grow their career. We also help pay for advanced education to support advancement. MetLife Foundation also engages with partners dedicated to education and career placement such as The Opportunity Network, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, NPower and Girls Who Code.
MetLife encourages a culture of year-round volunteering whereby our colleagues embody the care we seek to instill in all aspects of our operations. MetLife colleagues across all regions and departments voluntarily lend their time, talent and passion for their communities to educational, environmental, mentoring, coaching, skills-based and pro-bono initiatives. Read more about our employees’ volunteer efforts in our latest sustainability report.
Since 1868, MetLife has helped generations of people build a more confident future. Around the world, MetLife companies offer life, accident and health insurance, retirement and savings products and other financial wellness solutions that help families (including pets), businesses and communities not just survive, but thrive. This chart showcases examples of MetLife products and services that incorporate considerations for environmental and social issues, such as planning for natural disasters or obtaining equal access to financial services, to help address our customers’ evolving needs and help create greater certainty in an uncertain world.
| Sustainability Category | Product Name | Product/Service Description | Sustainability Issue | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social | PlanSmart® | A financial wellness solution that provides customers’ employees with accessible financial education programs and personal guidance that empowers them to take action toward a better financial position. | Financial wellness | U.S. |
| Social | UpwiseTM | UpwiseTM provides data-driven benefit enrollment recommendations and personalized benefits guidance throughout the year to help employees prioritize their well-being. | Financial wellness | U.S. |
| Social | Met99 | Flexible life insurance product designed to make financial planning more accessible to low- and moderate-income government employees. Customers can choose the protection they need from more than 20 benefits and can bring life and different kinds of protection for the policyholder and their economic dependents within the same policy. | Financial wellness | Mexico |
| Social | 360Health | Helps customers increase their healthspan, MetLife 360Health offers solutions that address mental, physical, financial and social health through a focus on the five key aspects of managing critical illnesses: prevention, early diagnosis, access to treatment, ongoing care and financial protection. Users can access services through the mobile app and online portals, which may include artificial intelligence-backed health assessments, diabetes risk monitoring, exercise and nutrition tips, online doctor consultations and prescription deliveries. | Financial wellness; Health and well-being | Australia, Bangladesh, China, Korea, Nepal, United Arab Emirates |
| Social | 360Future | Helps customers prepare early for retirement and supports them as they age, with retirement savings, insurance, health and wealth services. | Financial wellness; Health and well-being | China, Korea |
| Social | Simplified Issue Medical Care | Simplified issue version to complement existing Medical Care suite, which targets seniors and those who are rejected from standard full underwriting. It is a 10- to 20-year renewable small ticket-size base policy with accidental death benefit with multiple optional riders covering diagnosis of various diseases, hospitalization surgery and treatment. | Financial wellness; Health and well-being | Korea |
| Social | Low-Cash Value USD Whole Life | Leverages the gap between Korea and U.S. rates to apply a high pricing interest rate to offer whole life coverage to customers at an affordable price. | Financial wellness | Korea |
| Social | PNB MetLife Genius Plan | Non-par savings plan that provides guaranteed benefits and allows customers to create a customized pay-out structure, helping parents pay for education while balancing their financial protection needs. | Financial wellness | India |
| Social | Kids’ Dream | A variable universal life solution that can help parents grow their savings and their child’s education budget. | Financial wellness | Korea |
| Social | EduCare | A one-stop solution to support customers whose children plan to study abroad. | Financial wellness | China |
| Social | My Child Education Protection Plan | Upgraded education protection insurance with more comprehensive protection elements. The education insurance plan for parents in Bangladesh and Nepal was created to prevent children’s education being hampered by financial hardship. | Financial wellness | Bangladesh; Nepal |
| Social | Women’s Protect and Intuition | Designed to support women’s health by providing financial assistance in the event of a cancer diagnosis. Beyond financial protection, policyholders receive exclusive discounts on essential health services, such as 20% off mammograms and PAP smears, as well as up to 50% savings on dental treatments. Additional benefits include discounts of up to 20% on skin care, cosmetics, vitamins and wellness services and optical stores. | Health and well-being; inclusion | Gulf Region |
| Social | Several products | Customers can opt to pay their insurance premiums in monthly installments, without being charged with additional fees and/or costs. This allows low- and moderate-income consumers to access insurance. | Financial wellness | Italy |
| Social | Life Insurance and Accident & Health Insurance products | Partner with local financial institution Serfinanza and specialized agents to bring insurance to customers who would traditionally have trouble accessing products. | Financial wellness; Health and well-being; inclusion | Colombia |
| Social | Rural Term Insurance | Small life and accidental coverage with limited underwriting, aimed at customers of financial institutions catering to low-income groups who are vulnerable to financial risk. The coverage is based on a plan with issue ages of 18-70 years. In addition, the policy pays a lump sum amount to cover funeral expenses. | Financial wellness | Nepal |
| Social | Mini Insurance Products | Smart and Easy MetLife Mobile online platform offers a simple purchase experience for nine Mini Insurance products. The latest offerings cover death and fractures caused by accidents for one year with a small premium of around US$4.25/year. | Financial wellness | Korea |
| Social | Life Invest, Life Invest Plus, Life Invest Advance | Yen-denominated variable insurance that provides protection and asset-building functions at a reasonable monthly premium. One of its objectives is to help seniors extend their health and wealth spans to live well after retirement. | Financial wellness, Health and well-being | Japan |
| Social | Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana | Partnered with India Post Payments Bank to launch the government promoted, low-cost insurance. The product provides access to low-income and underserved customers—especially those in remote areas—by helping to provide protection and financial security. | Financial wellness | India |
| Social | GuardNext | For cancer treatment, the main contract provides coverage for the three major treatments (surgery, radiation therapy, anti-cancer drug treatment), home medical care and palliative care. In addition, a special contract covers advanced medical care, patient-requested medical treatment and advanced medical treatment that is not covered by the public medical insurance system. | Health and well-being | Japan |
| Social | khUshi | An app for customers to track fund value, make policy-related changes and pay premiums, helping to eliminate the need for in-person visits to branch offices. | Financial wellness | India |
| Social | Dental Insurance | Comprehensive dental coverage that offers a complete network with more than 22,000 specialized professionals for low- and moderate-income consumers. | Health and well-being | Brazil |
| Social | Dental Insurance | MetLife Dental is elevating expectations in oral health, advancing quality and the experience through:
|
Health and well-being | U.S. |
| Social | Pension Fund | Pension fund administration company, Chile ProVida, provides our pension platform and has a number of resources to support our customers. The company offers financial inclusion programs aimed at women, giving them tools to contribute to their pensions and grow at work. And a blog called “Tus Ahorros En Simple” (Your Savings In Simple Terms) provides helpful information in simple, understandable terms. | Financial wellness | Chile |
| Social | LifeCare Beautiful | Designed for women, against diagnosis of nine listed female-specific diseases that include breast and cervical cancer, along with loss of life. Breast and cervical cancer are the two most common cancers affecting women in Nepal. | Health and wellness; inclusion | Nepal |
| Social | For Women | Critical illness for women, including coverage for certain conditions related to female health, such as assisted reproduction, death through childbirth, pregnancy complications and congenital malformations of newborns. | Health and wellness; inclusion | Czech Republic; Slovakia |
| Social | Accidental Fracture | Comprehensive coverage, including medical reimbursement, hospital income, recovery income, death and disability benefits to senior customers upon accidental fracture. | Health and wellness | China |
| Social & Environmental | Unit-linked Insurance Products | Under a unit-linked insurance plan, policyholders make regular premium payments for insurance coverage and as an investment. The plan then offers a combination of insurance and investment payouts. A unit-linked insurance plan can be used, for example, to provide life insurance, build wealth, generate retirement income and pay for education. In certain markets, MetLife has onboarded environmental-, social- and governance-focused funds as an option for customers. | Financial wellness; Climate change | Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Slovakia, and U.S. |
| Social | MetLife Mujer | Universal Life product focused on savings and protection with tangible benefits such as special assistance for issues affecting women. | Financial wellness; Health and well-being; inclusion | Mexico |
| Social | Vida Pension 57 Mujer | Provides protection (against death or disability) for women up to the age of 57 and also allows them to accumulate capital to supplement their retirement (pension gap). | Financial wellness; Health and well-being; inclusion | Colombia |
| Social | Pet Insurance | Plans for dogs and cats help reimburse customers for unexpected vet bills. We provide insurance for pets of all ages—even seniors—and customers can customize their deductible and reimbursement rates so they work best for their pets’ needs and their budget. | Financial wellness | U.S. |
| Social | MiMetLife | A self-service digital solution on which customers can consult basic information about their active portfolio, execute a payment, request an ambulance, intake a claim and follow up. | Financial wellness | Mexico |
| Social | Pro99 | A digital tool for sales forces to run an end-to-end sales process, including policy quotes and issuance, providing a more agile and simpler experience for clients and agents. | Financial wellness | Mexico |
| Social | Dementia insurance | Covers existing dementia conditions, as well as mild dementia. In addition to providing comprehensive support for dementia patients, the product includes benefits such as coverage for dementia care facilities, outpatient treatment and long-term care. | Health and well-being | Korea |
The Families at MetLife MOMENTUM network connects and supports colleagues who are navigating family and career by keeping members apprised of available MetLife resources, organizing learning events and activities, and serving as a voice for caregivers.
For colleagues who want to build or grow their families, we have introduced Maven, a resource that offers 24/7 virtual support, including counseling, resources and referrals related to fertility, childbirth, adoption and surrogacy, parenting a newborn, returning to work and more.
All parents are provided with benefits to help them balance their career and family life, including:
- Flexible work arrangements, such as compressed work weeks, part-time work hours, and virtual work;
- Back-up childcare for up to 15 days per child per year when regular care is unavailable, along with up to 10% in full-time childcare discounts;
- Counseling, concierge services, research and referrals, seminars and self-assessments through our Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (former EAP) Program;
- A holistic well-being program that provides resources and support in the areas of coping, balance, body, relationships, finances and resilience;
- A collection of resources for parents and caregivers, including tutoring and test prep discounts, a college advising program, elder care guidance and child behavior expert consultations; and
- Digital resources and dedicated Care Advocates for every stage of the family building journey.
MetLife has been recognized for its inclusive workforce programs and named to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s annual list of Best Adoption-Friendly WorkplacesTM. For the 17th year in a row, MetLife has earned a spot on the list for its employee adoption benefits, parental leave policies and flexible work culture.
Find out more about MetLife’s benefits program and view our U.S. Employee Policies & Benefits.
MetLife’s Financial Wellness Products help our customers manage their personal finances and feel emotionally in control of their financial futures. Through products, services and partnership programs, MetLife’s Financial Wellness and Engagement group in the U.S. provides long-term solutions that bring financial wellness and education to individuals, while strengthening our relationship with employers. Please also see examples of products that support financial wellness in the Sustainability Products and Services chart (above).
In addition to our financial wellness-focused insurance and benefits program, we also invest in the financial wellness of communities through our impact investing portfolio and through the Financial Health grant focus area of MetLife Foundation. Through these programs, we aim to build a more prosperous future for all.
MetLife’s work model is designed to sustain a high-performing organization where all of our colleagues can thrive while delivering for stakeholders. It consists of three assigned work segments: in-office, hybrid and virtual. Many U.S. employees have a hybrid schedule and work in the office three days per week. U.S. employees have the ability to choose where they work on the other two days—in the office or virtually. For added flexibility beyond Paid Time Off (PTO), hybrid employees have 10 additional ‘flex days’ per year where they can choose to work virtually. The in-office segment includes roles with heightened risk in areas of operations, technology and finance that require them to work in the office four to five days per week. In-office assigned employees also receive 10 virtual flex days. Those assigned to the virtual segment work remotely full-time, and are able to work in the office, if desired. Some virtual employees work predominately from home but are required to come into an office periodically (e.g. once a month) as needed for training, team events, cyclical work, business needs or as otherwise directed by the Company. In addition to our work model, MetLife also offers flexible work arrangements in appropriate circumstances, including virtual work, part-time and compressed workweek.
See U.S. Employee Policies & Benefits for more details.
We believe that a person’s potential and well-being are inseparable. We aim to care for the holistic wellness of our workforce and our customers through thoughtful benefits, programs and support that meets an array of needs.
For Our Colleagues
Year-round, MetLife strives to help colleagues experience the value of our benefits programs through our BeWell platform, which provides access to health and wellness resources, support and leader tools. In addition, we raise awareness of our benefits through storytelling, leader messages and awareness campaigns.
Sustainability measures implemented across our offices and operations achieve the additional benefit of providing our colleagues with healthy spaces where they can thrive. We prioritize using sustainable materials and design in our buildings and providing high levels of indoor air quality and natural light and amenities such as bike storage, healthy dining options and sit-stand desks. In 2019, MetLife became the first life insurance company to earn healthy workplaces certifications from Fitwel. Fitwel is a joint initiative of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the General Services Administration.
For Our Customers
In addition, we aim to improve the health and wellness of our customers. Part of building a more confident future is supporting our customers during difficult times, particularly when the health and wellness of their family is at stake. We strive to improve and evolve our products and services based on local market and customer needs. Our latest sustainability report and our Sustainability Products and Services list (above) provides additional details and recent results.
MetLife Foundation also supports Dental Lifeline Network, a nonprofit that provides free dental care to vulnerable communities in the U.S., and Vision to Learn, which delivers mobile vision clinics and provides custom-made/custom-fit eyewear to students.
See our latest Sustainability Report for more on the ways we support well-being and health.
As a UNGC participant, MetLife prioritizes human rights and upholds policies and regulations designed to prevent any abuses of human rights, such as human trafficking or slavery, forced labor and child labor.
Although we believe governments hold the primary responsibility for safeguarding and protecting human rights, we also believe that championing human rights within our businesses is core to our purpose and in alignment with the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Our MetLife Statement on Human Rights describes the ethical business practices and codes we uphold and mechanisms for reporting issues or concerns. MetLife also provides a Modern Slavery Statement on an annual basis in compliance with the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) and a separate annual statement in compliance with the Australia Modern Slavery Act (2018). Both statements demonstrate MetLife’s zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery (including human trafficking and forced labor) in our organization and supply chain.
MetLife has been in the impact investment market since 1984. Since the MetLife Impact Investment program's inception, MetLife has committed approximately $1.1 billion, with an average of $40.6 million annually for the past 10 years. The program's investments are made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return, such as for building financial health and climate resilience. These impact investments are originated solely for MetLife and MetLife Foundation.
Learn more about MetLife Foundation’s Impact Investing portfolio.
MetLife Foundation seeks to drive economic mobility by addressing the needs of people with low income around the world. MetLife Foundation makes grants across three strategic giving portfolios:
- Economic Empowerment: Supports efforts that upskill and reskill talent, develop an entrepreneurial mindset and connect talent to paid employment with family-sustaining wages;
- Financial Health: Supports efforts that build financial health and resiliency through budget management, savings and access to credit; and
- Resilient Communities: Supports efforts that open up and expand access to mental and physical well-being resources, arts and culture, and environmental causes for a more resilient planet.
We regularly review colleagues’ pay and our pay practices to attract, motivate, engage and retain top talent, and we provide equal pay for equal work. As outlined in MetLife’s Pay Equity Statement, we review our pay practices for any potential disparities that cannot be explained by objective factors such as performance, experience level, credentials or location and correct any issues. We are committed to continuing to review our practices to promote fairness and equity. When we hire or promote talent, we take into consideration each candidate’s qualifications and experience in connection with the market-aligned range for the job and relative to peers.
We have a pay-for-performance philosophy, which means there is a direct link between a colleague’s compensation, their performance and MetLife’s performance. We also provide manager training on making compensation recommendations with a focus on performance, as well as positioning in the market-aligned range relative to peers.
MetLife’s principles and standards for suppliers are outlined in our Supplier Code of Business Ethics, which includes our commitment to conduct business ethically and lawfully in markets where we operate across our supply chain and we expect the same of our suppliers.
MetLife’s Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability program is integrated within Global Procurement and helps us interact with sourcing professionals and business stakeholders. MetLife provides equal opportunities to all suppliers in the procurement sourcing process and all suppliers are vetted through MetLife’s Third-Party Risk Management program and are expected to meet the same business requirements.
Learn more about MetLife’s sourcing program through our Frequently Asked Questions and latest Economic Impact Report.
MetLife provides personalized learning through a combination of virtual, hybrid and in-person experiences where colleagues can network, collaborate and learn from each other. Our latest sustainability report provides detail on our internal talent marketplace and learning opportunities for our employees.
Growing@MetLife showcases the many learning and development resources available to our colleagues. Through career and development conversations with their managers, employees receive feedback on their strengths as well as how they can grow their skills to reach their potential. Following these conversations, employees use MetLife’s online platform to create individual development plans and access a variety of personalized learning options.
MetLife’s MyLearning platform provides access to digital learning such as articles, books, videos, webinars and courses.
Our global internal talent marketplace, MyPath, offers employees the opportunity to participate in business projects that broaden their experience and allow them to build new skills.
As a responsible investor, MetLife maintains a long-term, value-driven perspective through MetLife’s GA investment portfolio.1 MetLife’s responsible investments seek to achieve a market financial return while considering social and/or environmental benefits that help create healthier communities and a more sustainable environment. These investments focus on the core areas of infrastructure, green, municipal bonds, affordable housing and impact investments.2
Read our latest Sustainability Report
for more information on MetLife’s initiatives and progress.
