The Disability Equality Index® (DEI) has named UnitedHealth Group one of the best places to work for disability inclusion in 2020. Employers earning top ratings helped advance the inclusion of people with disabilities through comprehensive policies, benefits and practices.
“We are honored to be recognized as a company with an inclusive and equitable culture,” said Patricia Lewis, UnitedHealth Group’s chief human resources officer. “We are firmly committed to fully including people with disabilities and living our values in a workplace that appreciates and supports all people.”
UnitedHealth Group earned a 100% score, which reflects the company’s strong alignment with leading disability inclusion practices. Specifically:
- Leadership engagement and inclusive culture
- Enterprisewide accessibility
- Employment and hiring practices
- Community engagement and support services
- Supplier diversity
UnitedHealth Group’s disability inclusion effort is led by a dedicated steering committee and director of disability inclusion. Key initiatives include a centralized accommodations process and team to support employee requests and needs, senior leaders participating on external disability boards, a companywide commitment to digital accessibility, benefits that support long- and short-term disability and a public-facing commitment to supplier diversity.
“Earning a top score is humbling and we also know there is always more work to be done,” said Karen Sachs, UnitedHealth Group’s senior vice president of engagement and chief Inclusion and Diversity officer. “Our goal is to create the culture where diversity, teamwork and innovation flourish – and, where everyone feels valued for who they are and can apply their talents to make a difference.”
The Power of Our People
Read inspiring words from two of our company’s accessibility engineers, who understand — firsthand — the steps we’re taking to engage people with disabilities, including employees and the people we are privileged to serve:
“Most people don’t know that 20% of the world’s population has some kind of disability,” said Jean-Pierre Jamous, principal digital accessibility engineer, UnitedHealth Group. As an accessibility advocate, he has experienced life from three different perspectives: sighted, low-vision and totally blind. “I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives by making content accessible … (for) people who live with disabilities.”
“As a professional with a visual impairment, I’m proud to work at a company that’s committed to hiring — and accommodating — people of all abilities,” said Mario Bonds, senior digital accessibility engineer, Optum, UnitedHealth Group’s information and technology-enabled health services business. “The enterprise is also taking accessibility very seriously, which says to me not only that I’m included, but also that my community of people with disabilities is included.”
About the Disability Equality Index
The DEI is a joint initiative between the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN that measures disability-inclusion policies and practices in consultation with the appointed DEI Advisory Committee — a diverse group of experts in business, policy and disability advocacy.
Learn more by reading the full DEI report.
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