UnitedHealthcare employs more than 330,000 people, who are at the heart of their work in communities around the globe, exemplifying their values of integrity, compassion, innovation, and performance.
Integral to building a health system that works is creating a culture that fosters diverse ideas and individuals. And UnitedHealthcare strives to do just that: celebrating people, ideas, and experiences, which leads to a culture where everyone feels they have a seat at the table.
“The company does such great work promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels, from local to international,” said nominator and local UnitedHealthcare employee Amanda Cooper. “I can truly say that I enjoy coming to work each day. … I am always learning, and I love to invest in our United culture by working on my own development in regards to diversity and inclusion. There is truly so much to learn.”
What makes UnitedHealthcare’s approach to diversity different from other organizations like it is their commitment to expanding access to care; addressing public health issues like housing, food insecurity, and transportation; and being an active advocate for marginalized groups. For Pride Month in June, the company hung a rainbow flag outside its doors to show allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. CEO Dave Wichmann (who has since retired) signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion statement, which supports increased learning and advancing workplace inclusion. And, nationally, the organization donates more than $47 million to over 18,000 charities.
The UnitedHealthcare staff is at the center of the organization’s work in inclusivity, according to Cooper, who said local managers Paula Eyerly, Paul Gierczek, and Nick Berry, actively work to promote, hire, and support people of color and individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ comunity.
“It is so meaningful when my leader encourages and allows time for development of diversity and inclusion. I am so grateful every day for the great work environment we have to work in.”
In an effort to hold their organization and their staff accountable, the Eau Claire UnitedHealthcare group puts out a biannual employee satisfaction survey, where they include diversity-related questions to measure trends in inclusion ratings from their teams, and taking critical feedback on how to improve their diversity initiatives.
“It is so meaningful when my leader encourages and allows time for development of diversity and inclusion,” Cooper said. “I am so grateful every day for the great work environment we have to work in.”
In addition to attending flagship conferences, chapter events, and career fairs, UnitedHealthcare has national partnerships with local chapters of many national organizations, such as The National Black MBA Association, Prospanica, Reaching Out MBA, The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, and National Sales Network conferences.
The organization sponsors interns through INROADS — an international nonprofit organization that places college students of color in internships with companies across the nation; hosts an annual Campus Talent Summit — a summer mentorship program for diverse students; and operates the Diverse Scholars Program — which awarded $2 million in scholarships to 175 diverse students pursuing health careers. The company also offers a Disability Inclusion Internship Program, which offers candidates with varied abilities more opportunities to gain corporate experience.
And their attention to diversity and inclusion in the workplace has garnered national attention, as UnitedHealthcare has been recognized as Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes, Corporation of the Year for Supplier Diversity by NCMSDC, the 2021 Best Place for LGBTQ Equality by the 100% Corporate Equality Index, the NCQA Multicultural Healthcare Distinction by NCQA, the 2020 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by DEI, along with a number of other accolades.
Learn more about UnitedHealthcare and their initiatives at uhc.com.
