WARREN, N.J., JUNE 25, 1996 -- An innovative benefit program will help the New Jersey employees of Chubb & Son Inc. juggle work and caring for dependent elders. When an elderly relative unexpectedly comes down with a mild illness or a regular in-home care arrangement falls through, a referral service link a Chubb employee with screened, trained caregivers who are available for short-term assignments.

"Companies increasingly need to anticipate the new challenges created by our aging society," says Victoria Cull, Chubb's work/life coordinator. "We realize that while some companies, including Chubb, already provide certain elder care benefits, employees continue to find themselves in a bind between their jobs and having to suddenly care for a parent or other elderly member of the household who is recuperating from an illness. In other cases, employees end up scrambling for dependent care coverage when the regular caregiver calls in sick or they unexpectedly are called out of town on business."

In addition to addressing these elder care situations, Chubb's new benefit provides emergency/back-up care for dependent children and disabled relatives. Chubb provides an 80 percent subsidy, which allows virtually all employees to afford the program.

The outside vendor, Caregivers on Call, provides the services for the new back-up care program. In addition to meeting certain educational qualifications, all caregivers undergo an extensive screening, testing and interviewing process prior to acceptance into the program. Elder Care Benefit .

Of Chubb's 6,500 U.S. employees, more than 2,600 are based in New Jersey. A study by the company found that more than half of its employees have dependent care responsibilities, and that employees take off an average of eight days per year to attend to work/family responsibilities.

The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 5,000 agents and brokers. Chubb's global network includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia.