USI Insurance Services
In a significant move towards ensuring a more inclusive workplace, USI revamped its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in 2020 with the introduction of the 'I’m With U' program. This initiative stands as a testament to the organization's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of their DEI endeavors. With a workforce encompassing a multitude of demographics and backgrounds, USI seeks not only to represent but also to educate and arm its associates with the tools and knowledge necessary to optimally serve their clients, prospects, and the broader community.
At the heart of this endeavor lie several pivotal steps, including enhancing USI's diversity metrics through structured education and training, providing avenues for career progression and mentorship, establishing diverse partnerships and networks, engaging in service and philanthropy, and emphasizing diversity in hiring. A significant stride within this journey was the introduction of the 'Recruiting a Diverse Workforce' initiative in 2022. Targeting the enhancement of the talent acquisition process, this initiative aimed to foster diversity from the ground up. The results speak volumes; a considerable uptick in diversity was observed within the early-career professional segment, rising from 24% in 2021 to 33% in 2022.
The positive trend in diversity metrics didn't stop there. Following the launch of the aforementioned program, along with the 'Navigating the Employee Lifecycle' training in 2022, there was a noticeable increase in age and ethnicity diversity, with the Millennial segment growing by 2.0% and the Generation Z population by 3.7%. This growth in representation underscores USI’s recruiters and leadership's commitment and adaptability in embracing inclusive hiring. The demographics further evolved in 2023, with both the Millennial and Generation Z segments showcasing further growth, and a steady or improved representation across diverse ethnicities.
USI's dedication extends to the broader personal insurance and risk management sector. USI National Personal Risk Practice Leader, Jim Kane, who served previously as the president of PRMA’s board of trustees, was proud to partner with the PRMA Executive Director and president-elect on multiple DEI initiatives. Not only did this partnership fortify USI's external DEI endeavors, but it also strengthened its internal initiative, 'I’m with U', that aims at individual action, unity, and a series of values represented by the letter U. This program, emphasizing understanding, uncovering biases, uplifting peers, upholding commitments, maintaining an unblinking focus on DEI, and unifying teams, has played a pivotal role in shaping USI's vision for a diverse and inclusive industry.