I currently work at State Farm in claims. It is pretty draining. Most of the customers are ok but some just endlessly talk to where I can't even ask them questions or explain things to them lol. I like State Farm. The pay and benefits are great. I just don't know if I can see myself staying in claims long term. Is underwriting a good area to work in? How safe is underwriting from A.I. eliminating jobs and layoffs? I know claims is very safe because customers want to talk to a person but I don't know if I can continue claims lol
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@jz I am one of the employees let go. Underwriting. Do NOT go there unless you want to be unceremoniously jettisoned with NO NOTICE.
It’s true. I was in one of the contact centers when BPOs were introduced. In the FAQ section for managers, one of the predetermined answers to a question was…”No, BPOs will never replace employees. Only augment the employees who currently work for The Farm.”
Remember, its entry level for now, but after a couple years of BPOs getting experience, they WILL start using them in specialist and professional roles. Imagine how happy our executives would be to fire americans making 65-100k a year and replace them with an indian making 15k a year. Remember no concerns for quality outside of gaslighting it matters. Keep in mind, they promised us BPOs would not be used to replace us, and then changed their mind only a few months later.
I agree with the post below mine. I would never consider going to underwriting after their entry level positions got offshored (BPO's) and the American employees got severanced from the company. Only a matter of time until either AI replaces most of underwriting or they continue offshoring. I assume the future of underwriting will be a shell of what it is now. I'm thinking major downsizing within the next few years
Underwriting is NOT a safe haven for claims. The old, traditional UW role, where you process stuff, is on the way out, to be replaced. PLCC UW still exists, but its a poor transition from claims, as you now deal with ridiculous agents and staff, who know how to reach your boss, and the general vibe that they are miles above you in role (you have to cave in a lot to make them happy or they just reach out to your manager then manager gives them everything)
Right now they just got done offering buyouts to people looking to leave, on the phone side at least, with a lot of service (the associate version of UW) more or less getting gutted and kicked to claims, while BPOs fill in (terribly).
Future of UW is a LOT less UW's in general, as the modernized system reduces a lot of volume, and removes the need for the production processors that were working the dream job (no phones)
Also they are not really hiring like they use to, with i think one open round right now, but unlikely many hiring opportunities moving forward.
Also, its just so crazy how bad claims has gotten over the last 15 years, with ZERO indication they plan to improve it at all in any tangible way. The reputation damage among insurance professionals and customers is not going to be easy to undo. How is this even acceptable to purposely understaff for so long? I remember when i left claims it was like they wouldn't lift a finger to make anyone happy and would just encourage quitting.
I dunno, SF needs to sell their insurance company off to someone interested in insurance and then they can pursue their tech/finance company dreams.
Hi, underwriting here. No, underwriting is over, especially for remote workers. Many have taken the severance even though they weren't ready to go. Everyone knows if you're over 50 that you won't get chosen for projects, LDAs, or posted positions anywhere in the company. SF is going for a certain "look" now and two very specific boxes need checked. Ageism is real and we're seeing it happen right in front of us. Don't believe anyone who tells you that underwriting is safe. AI and Mod are eviscerating it and right quick. We honestly don't know if we'll have a job every six months. It's like being in an abusive relationship.
ET exec said we should start to worry
@ax Even if you can manage to get out of Claims there are times they end up sending you back into the line of fire whenever they think a department is not productive enough to keep or that it's overstaffed. It's the front lines of the insurance business, adjusters are always dropping like flies, and it is ALWAYS understaffed.
I've heard from my TM that claims is safer from layoffs than underwriting. They can't keep people in claims, so kind of makes sense. But I've also heard downsizing is possible in the future, so who knows. Leadership says one thing, does another, and changes direction like underwear.
We are currently undergoing Mod so we have a lot of questions with very few answers about our future. If you look at the job postings, you will see very little if any underwriting positions. Right now, the emphasis is on getting the new platform up and running within the next 1.5 years so I expect to see more shifting and changes before things start to settle down.