PBN 2022 Diversity Equity & Inclusion Awards
Health Care – Large Company: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
AS PART OF ITS CORE MISSION, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and views them as critical to its success as a company and employer.
Michele Lederberg, the Providence-based health insurer’s executive vice president, chief legal officer and chief administrative officer, says diversity, equity and inclusion shapes Blue Cross’ business in various ways, from recruiting a diverse workforce and providing career advancement opportunities to designing health plans for vulnerable populations. Blue Cross, Lederberg said, is also proud of its revitalized supplier diversity program, which ensures that certified diverse enterprises have access to its contracting services.
“We recognize that there is always more we can do to address persistent health inequities,” Lederberg said.
Blue Cross, which employs 780 people locally, has seven employee business resource groups that engage associates from across the company who serve as invaluable resources to project teams solving real business challenges, while at the same time supporting community partners.
In 2022, Blue pRIde group members launched a self-identification campaign to encourage and educate employees on why it is important to self-identify, and Black Council @ Blue and Latin@Link coordinated educational and development opportunities in recognition of Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Meanwhile, members of the Disability Inclusion Network group led discussions around tools and strategies that can be used to support people with autism spectrum disorder. Seventy-two percent of the organization identifies as female, while just over 50% of individuals in management positions are women. More than 60% of Blue Cross’ top leaders, executive vice presidents and vice presidents are women.
That percentage has more than tripled since 2016, when Kim A. Keck was named the company’s first female CEO and president, paving the way for its current top executive, Martha L. Wofford, who joined in 2021.
In 2020, Blue Cross began expanding its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in talent management and recruitment. The company continues to include Juneteenth and Indigenous People’s Day as company holidays; review company human resources policies; review job postings to help ensure the language the company uses is welcoming and inclusive so it can encourage a diverse applicant pool; and expand the scope of recruitment resources to include community-based organizations, such as the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Black Business Association, to help further diversify Blue Cross’ applicant pool.
The number of Black, Indigenous and people of color associates working at Blue Cross rose from 14% in 2012 to 23% in 2021, with 40% of all new hires in 2021 identifying as a person of color.
These associates make up 12% of individuals in management positions, more than double the percentage since 2012; and 20% of the company’s board members identify as people of color.
In addition, Blue Cross requires all associates to complete Understanding Unconscious Bias, an annual training program. Through discussion, video examples and role-playing, associates learn more about each other, their teams and the business case behind diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Through the supplier diversity program, Blue Cross actively seeks and encourages qualified minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned, small disadvantaged and small-business suppliers from all segments of the business community to participate in a corporate procurement process.
“We take a multifaceted approach to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion for our employees, members, provider partners and the community,” said Carolyn Belisle, the company’s managing director of corporate social responsibility. “We lead with humility, listening to and learning from our community partners before we act.”
Belisle also said through the company’s annual RI Life Index and BlueAngel Community Health Grant program, Blue Cross supports efforts to identify, highlight and address the social needs of all Rhode Islanders, including safe, sustainable and affordable housing. Its 70-plus provider Safe Zones guarantee safe, affirming care for LGBTQ Rhode Islanders, she added.
Belisle noted that employee diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives feature extensive programming and training, as well as a strategic approach to talent acquisition.
“We also collaborate with our seven employee business resources groups for LGBTQ, Black, Latinx and other employees on ways Blue Cross can more effectively foster and measure inclusion and belonging,” Belisle said.
