Support

2020 was marked by the COVID-19 crisis and its consequences on health, the economy and society. Many people face partial unemployment or have lost their jobs. Others have ceased business or suffer from isolation due to the measures imposed.

In these difficult times, Groupe Mutuel has acted in line with its values: it has showed support and solidarity towards its employees, its policyholders, people in difficulty, tenants of the Group’s commercial property and small and medium-sized businesses.

In addition, Fondation Groupe Mutuel, which was set up specifically to support health-related projects, upheld its social involvement in 2020.

Donations to the “chaine du bonheur” for people in need

In order to support people who experienced a difficult financial situation last year, Fondation Groupe Mutuel donated 1 million Swiss francs to the Chaîne du Bonheur.

This Swiss platform for collecting donations launched an operation at the beginning of the pandemic and, thanks to the funds raised, is helping more than 100 national organisations that provide assistance to those most affected by the crisis.

“It is our duty to show solidarity and help those most in need during this unprecedented

period”,

said Karin Perraudin, President of Fondation Groupe Mutuel. The Foundation supplements welfare benefits granted to individuals and families who were already experiencing financial hardship before the crisis and who have lost their income. Moreover, it supports homeless people in need of protection, as well as elderly or disabled people living in isolation.

Maintaining contact with our policyholders

To help cope with the uncertainty of the beginning of the pandemic, our insurance and pension advisers stayed in touch with our elderly customers during the spring in order to provide support. Between April and June, advisers enquired about the health of more than 17,000 insured persons aged 65 and over and provided them with valuable information, including on the postponement of postal payments and the opening dates of our agencies. In addition, 2,500 clients who hold several insurance policies with Groupe Mutuel received a fruit and vegetable basket at their home.

This considerate gesture was extremely appreciated by our insured persons:

“This is a very generous and touching gesture towards your loyal policyholders during this difficult lockdown period. Thank you very much.”

(thank you letter from a policyholder having received a fruit and vegetable basket)

Support to the local economy

When shops closed due to the first lockdown in 2020, the company QoQa created the DireQt platform to support small businesses, together with Groupe Mutuel and La Vaudoise Assurances.

Local businesses were therefore able to offer their services online and customers had the opportunity to purchase vouchers or make cash donations. For each order or donation, La Vaudoise Assurances and Groupe Mutuel paid the retailer 20% more than the purchase value and the buyer received a 10% discount on each voucher purchased. Fondation Groupe Mutuel supported the project by donating CHF 1 million.

“During this critical period for many SMEs, the Swiss economy must come together and show solidarity. Thanks to this project, in partnership with QoQa, small local companies received tangible support”,

said Thomas Boyer, CEO of Groupe Mutuel.

The partnership was a great success: the funds made available were allocated in a very short time. 34,000 people bought a voucher or made a financial contribution for the benefit of 5,200 companies.

In total, the local economy received CHF 9 million between 27 March and 11 May 2020.

Handling payment difficulties in a proactive manner

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, some people were unable to pay their bills on time.

In anticipation of this, Groupe Mutuel suspended its reminder letters from mid-March onwards and renewed this decision in April.

Debt collection procedures were suspended during two months. Customers whose reminders had been suspended were informed in advance of the initiative and encouraged to contact us in order to agree on a payment agreement. 110,000 letters were sent out to this end.

More than 3,000 policyholders accepted our offer and contacted us to this effect. We reviewed their situation and agreed an individual payment timetable with them.

The usual processing fee for deferred payment was waived between April and June.

Payment of commercial rents

As the lessor of many properties, Groupe Mutuel also has a responsibility to local businesses.

Last year, when the situation was difficult, particularly in spring and in December, we showed solidarity and support by paying part of the rents of our business tenants. This resulted in a loss of revenue of CHF 96,179 for Groupe Mutuel.

In concrete terms, during the first lockdown, we waived one month’s rent for all rents below CHF 3,500. In the second half of the year, depending on the type of business and the financial losses caused by administrative measures, one or two months’ rent were not claimed.

A total of 26 small and medium-sized enterprises, such as restaurants and hairdressers, received help.

As the pandemic and the tough financial situation is expected to continue in 2021, we have waived one or two months’ rent from February 2021 onwards, depending on the type of business.

The solidarity demonstrated last year will continue

SOLIDARITY ON A DAILY BASIS

Groupe Mutuel does not only show solidarity with the local community when times are hard.

Last year, it was more than essential to reach out to our policyholders, as well as to the Swiss population and local businesses.

In the future, we want to continue to work for the benefit of the community by showing support, solidarity and assistance, as well as respect for different opinions, both internally and externally.

In 2020, Groupe Mutuel continued its supportive action, including through the “Coeur à Coeur” operation sponsored by RTS and the Chaîne du Bonheur, as well as the “Boule à Zéro” event.

Therefore, Fondation Groupe Mutuel was able to donate CHF 25,000 to “Coeur à Coeur” in 2020.

This amount was made up of a main grant of CHF 18,000, of donations collected in Groupe Mutuel agencies, as well as of an amount collected as part of an in-house campaign organised by Groupe Mutuel employees. The “Coeur à Coeur” fundraising campaign supports children who are the victims of domestic violence in Switzerland and helps raise public awareness of this important issue.

The “Boule à Zéro” event and the comic strip of the same name have provided recreational moments since 2015 for children and teenagers in hospital.

The drawings are intended to be both light-hearted and serious and help young patients to relate to their illness in an entertaining way.

At the end of 2020, thanks to the support of Groupe Mutuel, 500 comic books were distributed to children in hospital.

In addition, employees were able to buy the comics at a preferential rate and the proceeds were donated to the fundraising event. More than 300 comics were purchased and many other books were donated to children in hospital.