FEATURES
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Posted Mar 13, 2009
 Kaiser Permanente has been a diversity leader for many years, the type of company others quietly sought out for diversity advice and best practices. Its surge on this list is indicative of its increasing ability to let the world, including us, in on what makes it such a great company for diversity. Kaiser Permanente's commitment to diversity is so deep it has impacted the way it addresses its customers' health needs. |
 Chairman and CEO George C. Halvorson is a major diversity supporter and ties 10 percent of his 10 direct reports' bonuses to diversity goals. With the help of Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Ronald Knox, Halvorson has created an inclusive work force, reflected in the demographic numbers. Kaiser Permanente's work force is 56.9 percent Black, Asian, Latino and American Indian and, reflecting its industry, 76.4 percent female. This diversity carries over into its management, including the highest ranks. Of those in the category of "CEO and direct reports," 33.4 percent are Black, Asian and Latino and 42.9 percent are women. The company also has one of the most diverse boards anywhere: 21 percent Black, 14.5 percent Latino, 14.5 percent Asian American and 36 percent women.
Kaiser Permanente has well-developed work/life programs and very strong diversity training, which includes: Basic Diversity Awareness for Employees; Culturally Competent Care for Health-Care Providers; Executive Leadership Diversity Series; Mentoring and Coaching for the Protégé of Color Leadership Development Program; New Employee Orientation (Diversity Awareness); Interpreter Training Program; Qualified Bilingual Staff Training; Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Training; Sexual Harassment Training; Member Satisfaction Physician Training; and Diversity and Health Video Series.
The company also has excellent supplier diversity, demonstrating its deep-rooted community commitment. Of its Tier I (direct contractor) suppliers, 5.8 percent are MBEs (minority-business enterprises) and 4.1 percent are WBEs (women-business enterprises). Kaiser Permanente offers its diverse suppliers training, mentoring and financial assistance. |
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George C. Halvorson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
"Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. It creates synergy, productivity, and the ability for us to serve a diverse world. That is even more true in challenging economic times. The factors that drive our embrace of diversity as a strategic operating frame--the diversity of our customer base, the diversity of the labor market and our work force, the moral imperative--do not cease to exist in times of economic challenge. Neither can our commitment to diversity." |
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Ronald Knox, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
"Challenging economic situations cannot be the determinant of diversity commitment; otherwise, progress toward institutionalizing diversity-driven strategies and solutions, and achieving progress toward social justice, erode and revive with the ebb and flow of economic dynamics. This practice does not sustain and promote diversity as an essential and guiding philosophy in business and society." |
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Specialty Lists
- No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10
Companies for People With Disabilities
- No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10
Companies for Executive Women
- No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10
Companies for Latinos
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Industry
Health System/Hospital
Main Competitors
Catholic Healthcare West
U.S. Headquarters
Oakland, Calif. |
Number of U.S. Employees
160,689
Annual Revenue
$40.4 billion
% of Operations Outside U.S.
N/A |
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