CIGNA Launches Enhanced International Employee Assistance Program

• Program features include face-to-face counseling, online e-counseling, text messaging, and work-life referrals.
• International employees and their family members now have access to employee assistance services in the local language of 170 countries, available 24/7.

CLAYMONT, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- If you recently relocated for an international assignment and your family is having a difficult time adjusting to your new home, you’re not alone. According to the 2007 Work/Life Balance Survey conducted by New York-based ORC Worldwide, 65% of expatriates reported feeling the strain of managing work and home life.

To help globally mobile individuals and families, CIGNA (NYSE:CI) – the world leader in expatriate benefits – now offers customers and their family members access to a more comprehensive international Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling and support. This enhanced program is made possible through a relationship with Workplace Options, the world's largest integrated employee support services and work-life provider, which also provides key work-life services to CIGNA's U.S. customers.

The enhancements made to the employee assistance program are available for issues that include balancing work and personal life, emotional support, anxiety, depression, and relocation counseling, among other concerns.

“Many times our clients’ global workforce encounters stressors that are unique to an international assignment," said Marsha Shewanown, global director of wellness for CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits. "We are excited about our new partnership with Workplace Options, because it allows us to offer the right help, in the right place, at the right time, all around the globe."

Services are now available 24/7 in the local language of 170 countries, including face-to-face counseling and work-life referrals. Globally mobile employees also have the option to connect with an employee assistance professional from their mobile phones and computers or by text messaging, online chat or email. Alternatively, customers can choose new, convenient web-based counseling services, making it easy for employees to schedule and conduct confidential counseling sessions with therapists and counselors from any web-enabled computer.

"In today's increasingly global economy, it is critical for businesses to protect their most important asset – their employees,” said Alan King, president and managing director, Workplace Options. “A global employee assistance program provides employers with a round-the-clock safety net to support a healthy and productive workplace."

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE: CI) is a global health service and financial company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries in the United States provide an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance. CIGNA offers products and services in over 28 countries and jurisdictions and has approximately 65 million customer relationships throughout the world. All products and services are provided exclusively by such operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/rss. Also, follow us on Twitter at @cigna, visit CIGNA’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/cigna and listen to CIGNA's podcast series with healthy tips and information at http://www.cigna.com/podcasts or by searching "CIGNA" in iTunes.

About Workplace Options

Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family and personal life in order to make their lives healthier, easier and more productive. The company's world-class employee support and work-life services provide information, resources, referrals and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care, legal and financial issues to stress management and wellness.

Drawing from an international network of credentialed providers and professionals, Workplace Options is the world's largest integrated employee support services and work-life provider. Service centers in Raleigh. N.C., London, Toronto and Dublin support more than 26 million employees in 19,000 organizations, across 153 countries. To learn more, visit www.workplaceoptions.com.

CIGNAGloria Barone, 215-761-4758
[email protected]

Source: CIGNA