XML 120 R110.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Cash Received Under Share-based Payment Arrangements $ 12.3us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions $ 11.4us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions $ 4.9us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions
Stock Incentive Plan 2012      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Number of Shares Authorized 20,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= unm_StockIncentivePlan2012Domain
   
Number of Shares for Each Full Value Award 1.76unm_NumberofSharesforEachFullValueAward
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= unm_StockIncentivePlan2012Domain
   
Total Duration of the Stock Incentive Plan 8 years    
Award Vesting Period 3 years    
Number of Shares Available for Grant 17,050,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= unm_StockIncentivePlan2012Domain
   
Stock Incentive Plan 2007      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Number of Shares Authorized 35,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= unm_StockIncentivePlan2007Member
   
Number of Shares for Each Full Value Award 2.7unm_NumberofSharesforEachFullValueAward
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= unm_StockIncentivePlan2007Member
   
Total Duration of the Stock Incentive Plan 8 years    
Award Vesting Period 3 years    
Performance Share Units      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 3 years    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value of Shares Granted $ 34.72us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
$ 25.26us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
 
Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized 5.2us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Period for Recognition of Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized 1 year 272 days    
Percentage Stock-based Awards Expected to Vest 100.00%unm_PercentageofSharesExpectedtoVestforUnrecognizedCompensationCostandCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
   
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value of Shares Granted $ 33.77us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
$ 24.68us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
$ 22.96us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized 10.9us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Period for Recognition of Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized 292 days    
Fair Value of Awards Vested During the Period 19.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
18.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
19.5us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Cash Settled Awards      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value of Shares Granted $ 33.85us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
$ 24.22us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
$ 23.23us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized 0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
   
Fair Value of Awards Vested During the Period 2.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
2.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
1.5us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= unm_CashSettledAwardsMember
Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Period for Recognition of Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized 0 years 110 days    
Stock Option Compensation Not yet Recognized $ 0.2us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Options Granted 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Minimum | Performance Share Units      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Percentage of Stock-based Awards Possible to be Earned 0.00%unm_PercentageofStockbasedAwardsPossibletobeEarned
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Minimum | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 1 year    
Minimum | Cash Settled Awards      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 1 year    
Minimum | Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 1 year    
Maximum | Performance Share Units      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Percentage of Stock-based Awards Possible to be Earned 180.00%unm_PercentageofStockbasedAwardsPossibletobeEarned
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Maximum | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 3 years    
Maximum | Cash Settled Awards      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 3 years    
Maximum | Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award      
Award Vesting Period 3 years