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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Everyone knows their benefits are important. But not everyone has the information they need to understand those coverages or to choose the right benefits at the right time.

"As a benefits partner to thousands of businesses and millions of individuals, clear and accessible benefits education is an important part of our mission and can play a role in strong business results."

Thatas why Unum (NYSE: UNM) created [ GetBenefitSmart.com ], a new site that offers engaging, real-world explanations of employee benefits. Customized for different stages of life, the site answers benefits questions for a range of perspectives -- from single workers and young parents to empty-nesters.

aEmployee benefits are crucial to the financial stability of individuals and families, and employees have more responsibility than ever for making important benefits decisions,a said David Leopold, senior vice president for Unum. aThis site takes a straightforward, interactive approach to explaining benefits and answering common questions about insurance coverage.a

[ GetBenefitSmart.com ] offers information about employee benefits including disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental, health and retirement. Visitors to the site can create and print a summary of benefits information, and can share the site on social media.

The site is also available in Spanish at BeneficiosParaMi.com, offering clear benefits education to a large and growing segment of the workforce. Hispanics will fuel nearly 75 percent of workforce growth from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

After answering a few simple questions about age, gender and family status, visitors to the site get clear, relevant explanations of the benefits that matter most to them. A glossary explains some common insurance terms, and quick stats offer interesting bits of information on how, why and how often people use their benefits.

aThe site offers objective, useful information about the broad spectrum of employee benefits a" even beyond the benefits offered by Unum,a Leopold said. aThe goal of the site is to help people see how employee benefits protect their financial stability, and to give them the information they need to make well-informed, thoughtful benefits decisions.a

A strong understanding of employee benefits can be good for workplaces, as well as individuals. Year after year, research from Unum in partnership with Harris Interactive shows a strong connection between how well employees understand their benefits and how they view their employers.

In the fourth annual survey of more than 1,100 workers, 82 percent of employees who rated their benefits education highly also rated the employer as an excellent or very good place to work. And separate research from Towers Watson shows that operating income increased approximately 19 percent at companies with highly engaged workers.

aThe more employees understand about their benefits, the more engaged and positive they feel at work,a Leopold said. aAs a benefits partner to thousands of businesses and millions of individuals, clear and accessible benefits education is an important part of our mission and can play a role in strong business results.a

Visit the site at [ www.GetBenefitSmart.com ].

About Unum

Unum ([ www.unum.com ]) is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Through its subsidiaries, Unum Group paid approximately $6 billion in total benefits to customers in 2011.