UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is one of the US leading health insurance providers. The company can be rated high on a comprehensive health, safety and wellness audit as it address major issues associated with employees’ health and safety. The company has incorporated major concepts of such regulatory documents as OHSA, ERISA, etc. into its culture and vision.
The company offers a comprehensive health insurance package and assists in development of an effective medical plan. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated also provides wellness programs which help employees develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. All these incentives make the company one of the most attractive employers who invest in the comprehensive development of their employees.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is one of the leading health insurance companies in the USA. It provides a full range of health services and is “dedicated to making the healthcare system work better” (Stroh, 2005, p. 29). The company also provides “analytic tools” and data so that to “advance meaningful analysis” and improve “clinical and financial performance” (Stroh, 2005, p. 29).
The company is a successful health insurance provider and offers a variety of benefits to its employees (“Equity analysis,” 2011). Ivancevich and Konopaske (2012) note that rewards can take various forms. The employer can offer a high salary and bonuses, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance packages along with training and promotion opportunities as well as wellness programs.
Lots of employers claim that human resources are their main asset and they invest into the development of their employees. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is one of such employers as it offers numerous benefits. More so, it is possible to state that the company occupies one of top positions in a rating on a health, safety and wellness audit.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated offers all the benefits mentioned above, which makes it a favorable place to work. Importantly, both full-time and part-time employees get health insurance, which signifies that the company is socially responsible.
Thus, the employees get health insurances (“Equity analysis,” 2011). Apart from this, they get assistance in developing the most suitable medical plan for each employee. Admittedly, many companies provide their employees with health insurance, but the packages are often rather limited. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated believes that each employee should get adequate medical plan that addresses his/her particular needs.
Notably, dental services are included in the package. This personal and comprehensive approach justifies the assumption that the company pays the necessary attention to its employees’ health. Furthermore, the health insurance covers such expenses as treatment of the employees’ spouses (partners, eligible dependent persons). Some of the services can be received for free, while others are provided with considerable discount. Therefore, the company takes care of its employees as well as their closest ones.
The company’s employees also get constant training (Stroh, 2005). Each employee has a chance to improve his/her professional skills. More importantly, employees are also trained in work safety. The employees get training programs aimed at enhancing their knowledge of such regulatory documents as OHSA, ERISA, etc. Needless to say that the company complies with the regulations highlighted in the acts mentioned.
This compliance makes the company a safe place to work. Moreover, major concepts of these regulatory documents have been incorporated into the company’s culture. The company’s philosophy is to make the community better and the company’s employees are seen as a part of the community (Stroh, 2005). Remarkably, the employees have to know major regulations to provide the customers with high-quality services.
Thus, being aware of the recent health and safety regulations is a part of their daily activities. The company invests into the employees’ training and development. There is a double benefit for the employees as they are able to consult the customers and be sure they will be safe in their own workplace.
Therefore, it is possible to state that the company is preoccupied with health and safety in the workplace. However, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated goes beyond this and encourages its employees to make wise health choices in their private lives.
For instance, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a tobacco-free workplace. The company offers reimbursement for most effective smoking-cessation medicine. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated also offers participation in various programs aimed at quitting this harmful habit. Thus, the company insures that non-smokers work in a healthy environment and their choice is respected.
At the same time, the company encourages those who want to quit and provides significant financial and psychological assistance to these people (“Equity analysis,” 2011). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated also provides psychological assistance to its employees with the help of online or phone counseling services. In person assistance is also offered. Notably, confidentiality is ensured so employees can totally benefit from the counseling.
These services help the employees to handle certain psychological constraints which can be associated with their workplace or private life. It is important to stress that attention to psychological wellbeing characterizes the company as a thoughtful and responsible employer. The company offers a variety of wellness programs (“Equity analysis,” 2011). The employees can attend numerous fitness classes (e.g. yoga).
They can also attend a gym. On the one hand, availability of such trainings encourages the employees to live a healthy live. On the other hand, these trainings are additional benefits which make the company a desirable place to work. Finally, the company respects employees’ right to have rest and the employees have the necessary time to relax as apart from vacation there are a number of holidays which are not working days for the employees.
In this respect, it is possible to note that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated cab be rated high on a comprehensive health and wellness audit. The company addresses major needs of its employees. The company provides financial support as it offers comprehensive health insurance package to employees (and partially to their close ones). This financial assistance is also manifested in the attention to employees’ medical plan.
This financial support makes the company one of the leaders in terms of health and wellness programs. However, the company also focuses on psychological support and encouragement. The employees can obtain psychological support in a variety of ways. Therefore, the company invests into psychological wellbeing of its employees, which contributes to enhancement of health and safety in workplace.
The company also offers numerous wellness programs which are aimed at promotion of healthy lifestyles. Employees are encouraged to quite unhealthy habits. Therefore, the company is truly into enhancing safety and health in workplace. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated focuses on major aspects of human resources development. They invest into financial support of the employees to encourage them to mind their health (including psychological wellbeing) and develop healthy lifestyles.
Reference List
Equity analysis: UnitedHealth Group. (2011). Margin of Safety Equity Research. Web.
Ivancevich, J., & Konopaske, R. (2012). Human resource management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Stroh, P.J. (2005). Enterprise risk management at UnitedHealth Group. Strategic Finance, 87(1), 27-35.