Employee value proposition (EVP)

Michelle B.
 

Caring for aging parents

Balancing work and caregiving can be challenging but for Michelle Bartel, senior project manager for USP Claim Operations, the Solutions for Caregivers benefit has been a game changer. As a full-time working mother and caregiver to her parents, Michelle knows firsthand the pressure that can come with juggling multiple priorities and learning how to give the best support to her parents so they can stay healthy, safe and function as independently as possible.

“My experience with Solutions for Caregivers has been amazing,” said Michelle. “I was paired with my care manager, Amy, who schedules one-on-one sessions with me to check in and make sure I’m taking care of myself while trying to care for my parents as well.”

In addition to the personal check-ins, Michelle has found the education sessions beneficial in guiding her through the caregiving process.

“I joined the Caregiver Education Sessions and the Listen and Learn Series,” said Michelle. “My dad has dementia and the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Series has been so very helpful. Having access to the Solutions for Caregivers benefit has allowed me to share information with my siblings to help us all be more supportive of my parents — as well as each other. Having a plan in place and knowing where to go for resources takes a load off and allows me to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and most importantly, better to myself.”

Access to relevant information, personal support and helpful resources has been life changing for Michelle’s mental health.
 

“The process of caring for my parents has been so stressful and utilizing this free program has really helped alleviate some of that stress,” said Michelle. “Having less anxiety about what’s happening at home and knowing so many resources are available helps me focus on being a better employee.” 

Having been with UnitedHealth Group for almost 23 years, Michelle has witnessed the growth of the organization and is proud to see the wide array of benefits that are now offered.

“We are very blessed — dare I say spoiled — to be able to take advantage of these programs and resources,” said Michelle. "Since finding out about Solutions for Caregivers, I’ve shared my praise for the program with everyone I think it might benefit — it’s a lifesaver!”

Alan H.
 

Connecting with the community through volunteer work

Dedicating one’s skills and expertise to helping others without expecting anything in return is something worth celebrating. Alan Hill, an agile coach on the Optum Rx Agile Transformation team, embodies this spirit of generosity and community service through his work in the UnitedHealth Group Pro Bono Program. 

For Alan, the motivation to engage in pro bono work stems from a desire to give back to the community. He recently collaborated with a team of employees to support RotaCare, a non-profit organization that provides free primary and specialty medical care to individuals who have no or limited access to care.

“We offered our skills to develop a playbook for marketing, recruiting and retaining diverse board members,” said Alan. “It’s vitally important to add different dimensions and perspectives to ensure board members are representative of the community they serve.”

Another project Alan worked on involved providing marketing and promotional services to Lucinda’s House. Lucinda’s House is an organization focused on creating and improving environments for Black women and other women of color and eliminating structural barriers that exist in the health care system.

“I partnered with a team of volunteers to define the organization’s vision and strategy, identify ways to get the board more engaged, and outline key initiatives to support and serve women of color through improved childbirth outcomes,” said Alan.

Through his volunteer work, Alan has not only made a significant impact on the lives of those in need, but he has also enriched his own professional and personal growth by connecting with others who have a heart for service.

“I appreciate the opportunity to do something for a greater purpose and support worthwhile organizations in the community,” said Alan. “I also enjoy getting to know fellow employees who are also volunteers. These new friendships will live far beyond the projects we work on together.”

He believes the promise of caring, connecting and growing together will lead to improved morale across the organization. He thinks back to his experiences working as part of a team in the U.S. Army and believes a focus on team morale can drive great results.

“In the military, we call this a force multiplier which means if you’re a team and you don’t have all the resources, staffing, supplies or support you ideally need, you still stand a chance of winning if you have superior morale,” said Alan. 

Alan believes when people feel cared for, connected to a greater purpose and able to grow and develop, that can transform our workplace and performance.

“When someone brings their whole, powerful self to work, in service of a greater good and each other, they become literally unstoppable.”

Chu-Yi C.
 

Connecting with your workplace community

Our goal of being an even more inclusive organization starts one person at a time. Chu-Yi Chen, senior director in the UHG Enterprise Partnerships Team and finance lead for the Disability Inclusion Employee Resource Group (ERG), is passionate about her role in making a difference.

With more than 2,000 members, the Disability Inclusion ERG seeks to build a sense of inclusion and belonging for individuals with disabilities and their allies by sharing stories, advancing information, and increasing education and awareness for fellow employees. As the parent of a child living with a disability, Chu-Yi appreciates the opportunity to connect with this vibrant community of colleagues through their shared experiences and goals.

“My eight-year-old son, Vasili, is autistic with severe global developmental delays,” said Chu-Yi. “With the Disability Inclusion ERG, I get to experience a community of compassionate, supportive, mission-driven people who help make UnitedHealth Group a more inclusive workplace for people with disabilities.”

Each one of us plays an important part in fostering a more accessible and equitable workforce, one where all people are recognized for their abilities – and Chu-Yi has been inspired by the supportive colleagues surrounding her.

“I’m in awe of my fellow Disability Inclusion ERG pillar leads,” she said. “They exhibit extraordinary passion, profound knowledge, and unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities. It’s an honor to learn from and provide support to them as part of our ERG activities.”

And the team’s commitment is making a difference. As a result of the Disability Inclusion ERG’s efforts, UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise meetings – like town halls and fireside chats – now include American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to ensure employees who are deaf and hard-of-hearing can fully participate in the meetings. In addition, the Disability Inclusion ERG partnered with the Disability Inclusion Leader Advisory Council for the inclusion of accessibility and accommodations materials in the company-wide First Level Leadership program.

Imani A.
 

Growing together through new career opportunities

At UnitedHealth Group, we are committed to a culture focused on learning, growth and development. Imani Adapoe’s journey is a testament to how embracing new challenges and opportunities can lead to professional and personal growth.

Imani joined UnitedHealth Group as a senior pharmacy technician with Optum Rx. In this role, she loved helping customers and was inspired to continue to grow and explore new ways to engage her creativity.

“I had been a pharmacy technician for several years,” said Imani. “I loved using research skills to solve problems for patients, but I realized I was ready to be engaged in a different way. From here I sought something new.”

She became curious about what other roles might be a good fit for her. After immersing herself and building her skills in the field of user experience (UX) through certificate programs and real-world projects, she transitioned to the Talent Development & Learning team as an associate UX engineer. In this new role, she focuses on improving the experience for other employees looking to grow their careers at UnitedHealth Group.

For Imani, having a leader who supported her aspirations was instrumental in her career progression.

“My manager encouraged me to apply for roles that interested me, and she made it known that I had her support in moving to another team,” Imani said. “I am impressed with the way the organization prioritizes career mobility. From networking in Viva Engage communities to building or refreshing skills in MyLearning — there are so many resources available, no matter how you want to grow in your career.”

Although transitioning to a new field isn’t always easy, Imani feels she has now found the perfect role to be able to help employees using her creative skillset.

“It gives me peace of mind to know I’m working for a company that supports my career — and just me as a person in general,” said Imani. “I’m at a company that cares about how I want to develop and makes that opportunity tangible by providing the resources I need to grow.”

Denise K.
 

Connecting with colleagues to support those in need

Our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. And the way we do that is by listening to and advocating for those we serve and working together for better outcomes. Denise Keller, Star Kids School Liaison for UnitedHealthcare Community & State and a 2023 Sages of Clinical Services Collaboration Award winner, experienced the compassion of her colleagues firsthand when she set out to help a family she was supporting in Texas.

As a former special education teacher, Denise partners with nurses who are doing assessments on members. If anything arises that is school related, Denise steps in to guide the child and parents through challenges they are having at school.

“My husband actually saw the job posting at UnitedHealthcare and encouraged me to apply back in 2016,” said Denise. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave the classroom, but I’m so happy I did. Of course I miss my students, but this way I get to help a lot more children and families.”

One family in particular was in need of assistance after both parents died within a year of each other, leaving six children without a home. The oldest daughter took care of her siblings as best she could, but she was only 18 and pregnant herself. Although the situation wasn’t directly related to school, Denise partnered with the case nurse to secure housing for the children.

“The kids were so happy to have their own space,” said Denise. “They had been living on an uncle’s floor, so they were grateful to be in a safe place; however, they basically had nothing. No beds. No cooking equipment. Nothing.”

Denise reached out to local non-profit organizations, but there was no immediate funding available to help.

“I put my feelers out to see how we could support this family by providing for their basic needs through donations,” said Denise. “Amazingly, within a day or two we got beds for all the kids.”

And it didn’t stop there. When Denise’s UnitedHealthcare colleagues heard what she was doing, support flowed in.

“People were donating money for supplies, food and clothing,” Denise said. “My husband and I, along with the UHC Star Kids Service coordinator I partnered with and her husband, loaded up a huge trailer and took everything to the family. An anonymous donor even paid their rent for six months.”

Denise was in awe of the support the UHC team provided, which allowed the oldest daughter to go back to school and graduate after her baby was born.

“We all have that same compassionate spirit within us,” Denise said. “My colleagues kept asking what they could do. Their sentiment was ‘Well, of course we have to help. We’ve got to do this. We’ve got to get them all beds.’ There was no second guessing it. It was something that had to be done.”

Being recognized with a Sages of Clinical Services Collaboration Award makes Denise feel honored to work at an organization that contributes to the community and aligns with her personal values.

“The culture at UnitedHealth Group makes me feel like I’m where I’m meant to be,” said Denise. “We literally changed the lives of a whole family. It makes me want to do more, and not only that, it makes other people want to do more too, so that’s a wonderful, wonderful cycle to create.”

Rick T.
 

Caring for your health with One Pass Select

Rick Target, vice president of talent on UnitedHealth Group’s People Team, hadn’t always lived the healthiest lifestyle as an adult. He attributed it to the usual challenges: a demanding career, a busy family and other responsibilities that required his time and attention.

“I definitely put my health on the back burner and focused on other priorities in life,” said Rick. “When I realized the company was offering me all of these well-being benefits, and I wasn’t using any of them, it became the kick in the pants I needed. I knew I had to figure out how to take advantage of what’s available and make it work for me.”

And that’s exactly what he did. In 2023, Rick joined One Pass Select, giving him a simple way to incorporate exercise and wellness into his busy routine. Over the past year and a half, Rick has lost more than 90 pounds and feels much healthier physically and mentally.

“Traveling used to be a challenge, but now I use gyms all over the country,” said Rick. “I’m hooked into this network. No matter where I am, there’s no excuse — I have access to the best gyms. Getting started was the hardest part; the rest has just been fun.”

Along with the physical well-being benefits, Rick saw changes in himself at work and at home after regularly working out with One Pass Select. He says he is more present, more energetic and feels a deeper sense of mental clarity at work.

“It’s been transformational for me,” said Rick. “I have three young kids, so being active is me being more engaged with them.”

After being with UnitedHealth Group for 19 years, Rick found a new community because of fitness and well-being. He enjoys his new connections with colleagues after beginning his One Pass Select journey and believes those connections have led to both personal and professional growth.

“Programs like One Pass Select demonstrate how UnitedHealth Group is delivering on the promise of caring, connecting and growing together. It shows how the company is truly invested in people's well-being, and I think that's special — and can be life-changing.” Rick explained.

Nathifa H.
 

Growing together with MyLearning

Nathifa Hunte is an escalations account manager for UnitedHealth Group. On any given day she can be seen working with front line agents, addressing questions and escalations. Additionally, Nathifa supports business managers offline by analyzing data and quality audits to identify trends, preparing reports and facilitating refreshers for frontline agents.

Nathifa began using MyLearning as a resource to grow her skills professionally.

“What I appreciate most is the ability to gain knowledge and experience at my own pace, on my own time. And the course options are endless! MyLearning prepares me for the next step in my career as well as provides me with a deeper understanding of what to expect when moving on to that next step,” explained Nathifa.

Having been with UnitedHealth Group for three years, Nathifa feels MyLearning courses have helped improve her emotional intelligence — an imperative skill for her day-to-day work with people. She also takes advantage of MyLearning courses to prepare for her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) exam.

“I love the idea behind an organization investing in their employees and providing opportunities to grow and develop,” said Nathifa.

Jessyca G.
 

Growing together with tuition reimbursement

Being a lifelong learner has always been important to Jessyca Goss. When she started her new position as a tier 2 senior health advocate with UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, she made it a goal to learn and grow as much as possible so she could better connect with and care for our members, support her team, and reach her full potential.

“I had been wanting to go back to school to get my MBA for a while, but it had been 20 years since I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, so I wasn’t sure I would be able to manage the time or cost commitment,” said Jessyca. “After I started working from home and no longer had to commute, I learned more about UnitedHealth Group’s tuition reimbursement program and realized maybe my MBA goal wasn’t as far out of reach as I originally thought.”

Jessyca graduated with her MBA this spring and when her diploma arrived in the mail, she felt both pride and gratitude.

“The sense of accomplishment I have from getting my MBA is incredible,” she shared. “Just knowing that I was able to achieve this goal is absolutely worth all the work I put in. And the assistance I received from the tuition reimbursement program was instrumental in helping me get there.”

Being able to take advantage of a program like tuition reimbursement made Jessyca feel appreciated and valued. She believes when a company builds a culture that empowers employees to be their best, it’s a win for everyone.

“It’s incredible to think that a company this big cares enough about its employees to make this benefit available,” said Jessyca. “Knowing the company values not only our professional growth, but also our personal growth and supports us in taking that next step in furthering our education, makes me feel incredibly proud to be a part of this organization.”