16 insurers on 2022 Disability Equality Index Best Places to Work

August 11, 2022 6:30 AM

Passengers head towards a platform on an upper level of the train hall at Antwerp Central railway station in Antwerp, Belgium, on Thursday, April 28, 2022. The Belgian economy grew in the first quarter, benefiting from the easing of coronavirus restrictions, said the National Bank of Belgium. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg — Passengers head towards a platform on an upper level of the train hall at Antwerp Central railway station in Antwerp, Belgium, on April 28, 2022.

Disability: IN, a nonprofit focused on disability inclusion and equality in business, and the American Association of People with Disabilities released The Disability Equality Index 2022 Best Places to Work. The list includes several insurtech and insurance companies. Digital Insurance reached out to the insurers via email to comment on their company's strategies related to diversity, equity and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Ted Kennedy, Jr., co-chair of the Disability Equality Index and board member of AAPD said in a press release: "Disability inclusion is the new frontier of ESG investing and corporate social responsibility. To prepare for the future and create sustainable businesses, companies must engage their stakeholders with disabilities and weave disability inclusion into everything they do. We commend the companies that are taking demonstrated, actionable steps to unlock opportunities for people with disabilities at all levels of a company, including in boardroom roles."

Companies received a score, on a scale of zero to 100, those that earn 80% and above are included on the list. Over 400 companies participated in the DEI, 30% up from 2021. Three hundred and thirty-five companies were recognized as best places to work for disability inclusion.

The following companies were included on the list but didn't respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

Chubb–100%
Lincoln Financial Group –100%
MassMutual –100%
Principal–100%
Prudential–100%
The Standard–100%
AIG-90%
Shelter Insurance–80%
State Farm–80%

CUNA Mutual Group –100%

Joe Hankey, director of diversity, inclusion & belonging at CUNA Mutual Group says: "CUNA Mutual Group is proud to be named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for the third year in a row. While we still have work to do, we are proud of our advancements around disability justice and inclusion. Some of the work includes our very active Allies for Disabilities ERG, modifying our external recruitment efforts to be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities, and working with our facilities teams on modernizing our buildings with universal design standards and principles. In addition, we have continued our commitment to centering equity in our marketplace by driving digital accessibility and continuing our supplier diversity strategy to build better inclusion for individuals with disabilities and engage with disability-owned business enterprises. We look forward to continued growth and leaning into disability inclusion."

MetLife–100%

"At MetLife, our focus on equity and inclusivity includes creating a workplace where people with diverse abilities are supported and empowered," Meredith Ryan-Reid, senior vice president, MetLife Financial Wellness & Engagement and executive sponsor of the MetLife DiverseAbilities inclusion network, said in a press release. "We're proud to be recognized by the Disability Equality Index for our efforts."

Northwestern Mutual–100%

Amy Hanneman, vice president, diversity and inclusion says: "Northwestern Mutual continues to take meaningful steps to strengthen its culture of inclusivity – one in which every employee feels celebrated and supported. For employees with disabilities, some examples include ensuring the physical aspects of our campuses are accessible, raising awareness and advocacy for mental health support, sustaining an employee resource group dedicated to supporting this community, and promoting an inclusive experience within the digital workspace through services like screen readers, closed captions and text-to-speech recognition support."

The Hartford–100%

Matthew Sturdevant, a spokesperson for The Hartford, says: "We are proud and grateful to be named to the Disability Equality Index's 2022 Best Places to Work list. As a leading provider of disability insurance, we have a longstanding belief that people should be defined by their ability, not their physical limitations. We place great value on having varying skills and perspectives that contribute positively to our businesses and corporate functions."

Travelers–100%

"It is an honor to be recognized once again for our efforts to create a workplace that promotes the strengths of all people," said Diane Kurtzman, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Travelers, in a press release. "By focusing on each individual's abilities, we're able to further build upon our inclusive culture and provide an environment where everyone has an opportunity to thrive."

USAA-100%

"Employees with disabilities are valuable members of team USAA and help bring unique perspectives, experiences and incredible talent to our organization," says Ameesh Vakharia, chief strategy and brand officer at USAA. "We work hard to ensure that our employees have the support and resources they need to succeed and that our products, services, communications, information, and facilities are created with accessibility in mind. At USAA, inclusion means creating an environment where everyone can do and be their best."

Liberty Mutual-90%

Mariana Fagnilli, vice president & director, Global Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion says: "At Liberty Mutual, disability inclusion is creating an accessible and inclusive workplace where employees of all abilities can bring their full selves to work and have an opportunity to thrive. Through a multi-year accessibility action plan, we've taken significant steps to support people with disabilities, ensuring employees with lived experiences help shape the direction and goals of the plan. Through regular meetings with Liberty Mutual's leadership team, employees have supported the evolution of our policies, benefits, infrastructure and programming, including:

Launching an employee resource group, Able@Liberty + Allies, dedicated to fostering awareness, understanding and support for people with disabilities, caregivers and family members. With over 5,000 members, Able@Liberty has been a key driver of our efforts to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
Launching an accessibility council, made up of leaders across critical functions of the company to provide guidance to the accessibility work we do across the enterprise.
Establishing the digital accessibility initiative to make Liberty Mutual's digital assets more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Committing to the evaluation of Liberty Mutual's buildings and facilities for greater accessibility.
Launching a campaign in the U.S. that enables employees to self-identify across all facets of diversity -- such as veterans, LGBTQ+ and those with disabilities.
Creating an interactive training course for managers to understand disability awareness, disclosures and accommodations.
Continuing to diversify our supplier network through partnerships with disability-owned business enterprises.

Being named a Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion shows that we're on the right journey, and as we move forward, we will build upon this work to ensure all employees feel seen, valued and appreciated."