US ICMIF member Shelter Insurance has been recognised as a Top Diversity Employer for 2021 in the insurance category by online recruitment platform DiversityJobs. This listing identifies employers which have “shown dedication and outstanding commitment to building a diverse workforce and culture”.
Diversity and inclusion at Shelter
Shelter is committed to bringing together the diverse perspectives of all agents, employees and community partners. Utilising their different perspectives creates an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute to the organisation, enhancing its ability to serve diverse customer needs and meet its business objectives.
Shelter’s diversity and inclusion journey officially began over 32 years ago with the creation of its diversity intern programme. Through the years, Shelter has introduced a diverse student population to the mutual insurance company and the industry as a whole, successfully hiring and retaining a segment of those students within the organisation.
Since the launch of its diversity intern programme, Shelter continues to look for new opportunities to strengthen this core value. It has dedicated positions within the company which are charged with enhancing its focus and attention to continued improvements. In 2018, it adopted the Principles of Community, which state the importance and value of a diverse workforce. As a company, Shelter recognises the need to continually review and commit to those important tenets that make the company stronger.
One way Shelter does this is through its five Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), that provide a range of programmes and initiatives to engage with employees and provide impact within the organisation in their respective areas: the Emerging Professionals Network (EPN); the Shelter’s Women’s Advocacy Group (SWAG); the Multicultural Group (MCG); the Happy Work Team (HWT); and Shelter’s ability awareness group, Ra11y.
Shelter is proud of its diversity and inclusion efforts, sharing more about the programmes and opportunities it pursues in its Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report. In the 2020 report, Matt Moore, President & CEO of Shelter Insurance, says: “As we review the year, my hope is you will see that Shelter has a history of a strong dedication to Diversity and Inclusion. It is not a buzz word or slogan but backed up by our actions. We have not arrived at our destination, in fact we still have a long way to go. It must be a part of all we do, how we make decisions and how we interact in our communities. We are committed to this journey and will do our best to make long-term and lasting change.”
Later in the report, Stacye Smith, Vice President of Human Resources, adds “I am proud of the work we are doing to be a more diverse and inclusive company. One that appreciates people for their values and contributions, and where we feel respected by and connected to one another. We are better today than we were yesterday, but we have more work to do and we are committed to doing it together.”
DiversityJobs’ mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace by creating a space where diversity-minded employers engage the best and brightest diverse talent. They provide an online job search tool and free career advice to jobseekers and diversity recruiting services to employers.
To learn more, visit the Diversity at Shelter webpage or download their 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Report via this link.
