Aegon has taken proactive measures to help our colleagues and other partners navigate this intensely challenging period since the first outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. Find out more below about these initiatives and the donations we have made to support our customers and other stakeholders.
We are acutely aware of the difficulties and disruption that the pandemic has caused for our customers, suppliers, and other partners. Aegon introduced a 'Working from Home' framework to help staff sustain good levels of well-being, engagement, and productivity during lockdown. This ensured a safe working environment while they delivered uninterrupted service to our customers and other stakeholders.
We have also gone one step further, by exploring innovative ways to remain closely connected to our customers and provide additional support during the COVID-19 crisis:
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This is the moment in which our customers need our expertise and service, so we can help them work through this crisis."
We look out for our customers
We've made sure there are no material pandemic exclusions in our products and services. As events unfolded around the coronavirus pandemic, our customers and colleagues have been affected by the virus in a myriad of ways. We have, and are, exploring ways to support everyone affected by the crisis. Our initial focus was on providing direct relief to local charities and supporting people on the front lines. We will continue to help affected customers. If you believe we can help you, please get in touch with your local Aegon office.
Community investment
Aegon has acted to support our most vulnerable communities in direct and tangible ways. During the spring lockdowns, Aegon's initial response centered on providing immediate healthcare support and relief. Through donations to hospitals, our various business units funded medical supplies and resources in regions worldwide.
- In Asia, Aegon THTF, Aegon's joint venture in China, donated RMB 1 million to the Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan, at the epicenter of the outbreak. We also distributed 50,000 face masks.
- In Hungary, EUR 85,000 that had been earmarked for canceled Aegon events was redirected to two hospitals.
- In the United States, we gave USD 500,000 to Direct Relief, an organization providing protective gear to frontline healthcare workers.
- Aegon the Netherlands joined other Dutch insurers in donating to a fund for healthcare workers and their families. The fund provides financial support to healthcare workers and/or their families in the event of them suffering severe illness or death as a result of being infected with COVID-19.
As the COVID-19 situation unfolded, we began to channel our community investments into projects to alleviate the financial consequences of the pandemic, with special attention paid to people who needed help handling their finances. Additionally, Aegon UK is supporting local charities on the frontline of the crisis, such as food banks and organizations providing aid to the vulnerable elderly.
Aegon's donations in 2020 amounted to EUR 9.5 million, a 16% increase compared to 2019. Overall, through our businesses, Aegon supports approximately 500 charities and good causes in 2020. Over EUR 1.6 million or 17% of the 2020 total was directed towards pandemic-related donations.
Find out more in our Integrated Annual Report 2020
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