Humana President and CEO Bruce Broussard has written this introductory letter to the company’s latest Inclusion & Diversity Report, which you can find here. Celebrating diverse backgrounds and creating an environment of inclusion is at the heart of Humana. Our commitment: to ensure Humana’s work environment is one in which every associate can bring their whole self to work to do their best work.
As we release our Annual Inclusion & Diversity Report, civil unrest in response to grave injustices floods our already complicated world. Caring for each other and respecting differences is who we are as a company, and we do not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind. At the core of our values is serving the communities in which we operate. The mission of our company has taken on particular significance in our hometown of Louisville that is reeling from the devastating loss of Breonna Taylor, protests and ensuing tragedies. This is a community that is already suffering the impact of COVID-19. There is a lot of work and healing to do to rebuild physically and emotionally.
We want to do everything we can to help heal our communities and nation, so we’ve made commitments toward rebuilding. Among our commitments, Humana is donating $11.5 million focused on rebuilding, relief, equity and inclusion efforts in Louisville. Proceeds will support the health of the community, create greater health equity, and make the company’s hometown more inclusive and equitable for all. We also added 160,000 volunteer service hours our associates can use to help revitalize downtown Louisville and communities across the country. We’re partnering with local health officials to further the impact of the company’s Bold Goal commitment to address and improve the underlying health disparities in Louisville, and we will continue to invest in the upskilling/reskilling of Louisville talent in partnership with other corporate partners.
It’s clear that if we’re to become a stronger and more peaceful nation, we have much work, and healing, to do. We are learning the importance of listening to understand, learning and, ultimately, acting intentionally to create a more just and equitable world. Amid a national dialogue around race, equity and opportunity—along with the disproportionate health and economic impacts of COVID-19—we need to make it easier to speak up, be vulnerable and stand against racism in any form.
In reflecting on the ways we’re advancing inclusion in the workplace, I continue to be impressed by how many associates—more than 31%—participate in our Network Resource Groups (NRGs). IMPACT, Humana’s African-American NRG has hosted Courageous Conversation sessions for its members, providing a safe space for open dialogue, sharing experiences and offering a community of support for our associates. Humana’s other eight NRGs are offering opportunities to learn how to be a better ally to marginalized communities. With powerful guidance from our Office of Inclusion & Diversity, our leaders have been charged with having conversations about race with their teams. Providing these opportunities to speak up, listen and learn is part of our continued commitment toward creating a culture where everyone feels heard and appreciated for who they are.
We continue to invest heavily in our NRGs and have even earned recognition for our efforts. For example, Unidos recently earned us a place on the prestigious Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s list of Top Companies for Hispanic Inclusion. And our Pride NRG has made significant strides in driving awareness around LGBTQ challenges by developing an Ally Playbook that provides education, tools and resources on how to foster ally growth and inclusive behaviors around the LGBTQ community.
At the same time, we’ve deepened awareness of our personal biases through Disrupting Bias training. More than 400 of our top leaders have attended workshops, with plans to expand participation throughout 2020. Through the program, I discovered some of my unconscious biases, and because of this, I am taking steps to broaden my perspective in all of my actions.
Expanding diverse representation in our workforce has always been a priority. We are making progress with more women and people of color in leadership roles. Women account for 43% of our senior leaders and people of color account for 16%. This, coupled with targeted recruitment efforts to bring diverse talent to strengthen our capabilities and readiness for the future, reinforces our commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization.
While our dedication to building an inclusive and diverse workplace has earned Humana recognition, including DiversityInc Top 50, and “Best Place to Work” from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, we must continue our focus and drive ongoing awareness of how our actions impact all of our stakeholders. With the launch of the CEO I&D Lunch Series, we hope to spark courageous conversations that cultivate a rich, inclusive and diverse environment—here and in the community.
Diversity of thought allows us to make better and more complete decisions in our daily work and our long-term planning. I look forward to leaning into the diverse perspectives, beliefs and new ways of thinking to improve the lives of the millions of people we serve.
Please explore our latest Inclusion & Diversity Report.