Health Care Service Corporation Named a Best Place to Work on the Disability Equality Index

CHICAGO, July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) has been recognized as a Best Place to Work on the Disability Equality Index (DEI). The company's inclusive culture, collaboration with cross-disability community organizations, recruitment outreach and employee engagement initiatives earned HCSC a score of 100 percent for the second consecutive year.

The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN). Established in 2015, the national benchmarking tool and report on corporate disability inclusion policies and practices scores companies in six weighted categories, including: employment practices, culture and leadership, supplier diversity, community engagement and enterprise-wide access.

"The contributions of those with disabilities in our lives, in our communities and throughout our company are significant," said Nazneen Razi, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, HCSC. "These unique perspectives, talents and experiences help us better understand each other, understand our members and contribute to our shared success."

In-Abled, HCSC's business resource group, champions people with disabilities and supports employees who are caregivers. In-Abled works closely with the Disability Advocacy Council (DAC), which brings together leaders across the company to provide oversight in employment and accessibility initiatives. The two groups created HCSC's Disability Toolkit, which provides resources for employees and hiring managers, including information on the accommodations process, closed captioning, self-identification and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In-Abled members also participate in recruitment outreach, engage in local community events including the annual Disability Pride Parade in Chicago and lead inclusion best practice sharing sessions with other corporate resource groups.

In-Abled members and HCSC employees also give their time and talent to serve with cross-disability organizations including the Special Olympics. In 2017 alone, employees across HCSC's five plans, volunteered over 900 hours with the Special Olympics: coaching basketball, soccer and softball teams, participating in the Polar Plunge^® fundraiser and assisting at the Fall and Summer Games. This year, through its Illinois health plan, HCSC is a proud sponsor of the Special Olympics' 50^th Anniversary Celebration in Chicago the week of July 16 and will participate in a variety of activities including the Global Day of Inclusion Festival on Saturday, July 21, at Soldier Field.

"HCSC employees and members have a deep connection with Special Olympics, serving as athletes and volunteers," said Kevin Cassidy, president, Employer Solutions, HCSC, and board member, Special Olympics Illinois. "We have a shared commitment to advocate for persons with disabilities and ensure that they can thrive in every aspect of their lives from the workplace to the arena. We are proud to join our customers and the community in the celebration of 50 years of the Special Olympics."

To learn more about diversity and inclusion initiatives at HCSC, visit http://www.hcsc.com/our-impact/diversity. For more information on the 2018 Disability Equality Index, or to download a copy of the report, visit https://disabilityequalityindex.org/.

About Health Care Service Corporation Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 15 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. HCSC has a rating of A+ (Strong) from Standard and Poor's, A1 (Good) from Moody's and A (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company. For more information, please visit HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE Health Care Service Corporation