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The United States of America seems to be at a consistent inflection point. From media-heavy events to moments of social unrest, there appears to be a pervasive tone that seeks to divide humanity rather than unite.
While some would look the other way, hoping society will self-correct itself, other organizations and companies proactively work to create environments and cultures that champion justice through diversity, equity, and inclusion. UnitedHealth Group is a part of that work, intentionally implementing programs and initiatives that support and uplift their employees regardless of some societal status quo.
UnitedHealth Group (UHG) created a strategic framework for advancing diversity rooted in recruitment tools, building cultural competencies, and continued education for equity and inclusion tools.
For UHG, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a business priority. This working prodigy includes vast representation across demographics, including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian employees are key areas of focus. An additional component of UHG’s approach is gender equity. To that end, 40% of the company’s top leadership positions are held by women.
Although recruiting and retaining diverse employees is paramount to UHG’s imperatives, creating an inclusive culture of understanding is just as important. In 2022, the healthcare company held its inaugural DEI Innovation Lab. It relaunched its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as a vital point to offer safe spaces for team members and provide critical insight into the cultural nuances of diverse communities.
According to a report from the Society of Human Resource Management, ERGs were intially formed in the 1960s by a group of Black employees at Xerox to discuss racial tensions in the workplace. Since then, the groups have gained popularity, noting many benefits, including a greater sense of belonging and employee engagement.
UHG believes in the importance and existence of ERGs as they support its DEI imperatives.
“ERGs are an important resource for our company as a whole, and we are better for their existence,” said Chief Medical Officer, Clinician, and Provider Experience for UnitedHealth Group Dr. Kenneth Poole.
In addition to impacting their internal culture, UHG is making waves in the world of health care. Based on data from its 2022 Sustainability Report, UHG is investing $100 million in philanthropic dollars to uplift partnerships that will advance a more diverse workforce in the healthcare industry by 2033.
This healthcare equity work focuses on six primary areas: care experience and workforce, behavioral and mental health, socioeconomic challenges, chronic condition management, care access and affordability, and mortality and life expectancy.
With its expansive initiative, it is clear that UHG is more than committed to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
Click here to learn more about UnitedHealth Group and its commitment to DEI.
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