to our sustained efforts to integrate diversity into every aspect of our daily operations, Kaiser Permanente has distinguished itself as a socially conscious leader that supports and empowers its workforce.
Diversity, inclusion, and culturally competent medical care are defining characteristics of Kaiser Permanente and the framework for our diversity consists of a Board of Directors–mandated National Diversity Agenda designed to achieve the following:
- Grow our membership through effective market segmentation approaches that target specific populations who are the fastest-growing segments of our society.
- Provide culturally competent medical care and culturally appropriate service to improve the health and satisfaction of our increasingly diverse membership.
- Enhance the diversity, cultural competence, skill, and performance of our workforce.
Recruiting and cultivating diverse talent is integral to achieving our key business objectives. To consistently deliver high-quality, accessible, culturally competent care to our members and patients, it is essential that our workforce reflects the communities we serve.
Today, the Kaiser Permanente workforce reflects no racial majority, with nearly 60 percent of the workforce comprising people of color. Additionally, three-quarters of the total work force, nearly half of the executive work force, and more than one-third of the physician workforce are women. Maintaining industry-leading levels of diversity through deliberate planning, development, and outreach are critical to fulfilling our mission, sustaining our business objectives, and providing the best level of care to our members and patients.
We champion the cause of inclusive care—care that is respectful of and sensitive to the unique values, ideals, and traditions of the 140 cultures currently represented in our population. And we are committed to creating a workforce with the cultural sensitivity and the language skills needed to help eliminate cultural barriers to communication. Making good on that promise, we currently have eight centers of excellence dedicated to everything from providing 24-hour translation services to members and staff in over 100 languages to finding new ways of delivering personalized care in and beyond our walls.
At Kaiser Permanente, we stand strong. We stand united. And we stand for total health—mind, body, and spirit.
Recent awards and accomplishments include the following:
- In 2009, for the fourth consecutive year, Kaiser Permanente is listed on DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity.
- Kaiser Permanente is ranked eighth on Black Collegian magazine's 2009 list of the Top 100 Diversity Employers.
- In 2009, Kaiser Permanente is named 1 of 20 Best Companies for Asian Pacific Americans by Asian Enterprise Magazine.
- Kaiser Permanente is named “Company of the Year” by Latina Style magazine in 2009.
- 2009 marks the 32nd consecutive year that Kaiser Permanente has celebrated diversity by hosting an annual diversity conference.
- Kaiser Permanente is named 2009 Corporation of the Year by the Hispanic College Fund.
- In 2009, Kaiser Permanente scored a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign – Corporate Equality Index for LGBTI.
- Springboard Consulting LLC in partnership with Work Life Matters Magazine – Disability Matters named Kaiser Permanente a winner of the 2009 Disability Matters Diversity Award.
- Kaiser Permanente is acknowledged with the 2009 Corporate Award by the Filipina Women’s Network.
- Ranked as one of the top employers for people with disabilities by CAREERS & the disABLED magazine.