Piedmont Health Services: Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Corporate Statement

Piedmont Health Services, Inc (PHS) endeavors to maintain an inclusive workplace, one that is reflective of the patient population that we serve and the individuals whom we employ. We strive to incorporate inclusiveness throughout our work culture, including the way that we recruit, support, and retain employees. We believe that having employees from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences are an asset.  It helps us to view the world through different lenses embodying the perspectives, opinions, approaches, and values that our employees bring to work daily. In fact, inclusion is woven into the very fabric of our work life, which allows our employees to perform at their highest possible potential.

Scope

The Diversity and Inclusion statement applies to all Piedmont Health Services employees, contractors, consultants, residents, interns, agents, visitors, and vendors when acting on behalf of piedmont Health Services.

Our Commitment

We make the following commitments to:

  • Our Workforce:  Attract, retain, support and develop diverse talent.
  • Our Workplace:  We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices and values are heard.
  • Our Community of Patients: Create healthy communities by engaging with them and by providing equitable, engaged, patient care in a welcoming, caring, inclusive and honoring environment.

Piedmont Health Services takes its commitment to diversity and inclusion seriously. We are working to build a culture where employees feel trusted, respected, valued, have a sense of belonging and the opportunity for their voices to be heard. Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than merely words on paper … they are values. It is the way to do business and is critical to Piedmont Health Services’ success.

In keeping with that commitment, PHS has established a Diversity and Inclusion Council to educate, engage and support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The goals of the Council are to:

  • Educate: enlighten the workforce about diversity and inclusion by providing training opportunities.
  • Foster: a connected work culture.
  • Cultivate: promote understanding around differences.
  • Communicate: develop messages as well as opportunities for dialogue to encourage employees to see that their success and Piedmont’s is tied to Diversity & Inclusion (D & I).
  • Culture: encourage leaders to promote the vision and business case for D & I by taking actions to increase diversity and inclusion at PHS.   

Guiding Principles

We continuously find ways to cultivate a workplace where diversity is celebrated and everyone is included, respected, valued and appreciated as Piedmont’s most valuable assets. We are guided by the following principles:

  • Diversity: Piedmont Health Services embraces and supports our employees’ differences in age, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, points of view, language differences, nationality or national origin, family or marital status, physical, mental and developmental abilities, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, skin color, social or economic class, education, work and behavioral styles, political affiliation, military service, caste or other characteristics that make our employees unique.
  • Inclusion: Conscious and deliberate action to create a welcoming and respectful environment for all employees and the communities we serve. Through our Diversity & Inclusion Council we will provide annual training on cultural competencies, implicit bias and respecting gender identity in the workplace.  Additionally, we engage and educate our employees via diversity dialogues where they can safely and openly discuss race

Our guiding principles also align with our corporate shared values:

  • Shared Commitment: Shared investment to each other, the organization and its mission,the process, the plan and goal. Employees are aware of their own unconscious and conscious biases and know how to counteract the impact of these biases at work.
  • Collaboration: Intentional and authentic teamwork while understanding level and across all activities in the organization. We intentionally seek and welcome the insights of diverse groups, as well as their collective voices.
  • Open Communication: Bi-directional, honest and clear communication without worry of retaliation. Communication should be respectful between all employees regardless of title or level.
  • Inclusion: Broadly reflective and representative of all people, PHS communities, disciplines, and ideas.  Each employee is also responsible for contributing to the organization’s success. Piedmont will foster a safe work environment where all employees are included, treated with dignity and respect, and placed in positions to contribute to Piedmont’s future success. We will further create an environment where employees feel that their backgrounds and lifestyles do not affect the perceptions of them as professionals, or affect their opportunities for growth and development. We will develop an environment where employees are not alienated or excluded because they do not fit into a set of cultural norms. The diversity of the workforce shall be visible at every level and department of the organization.
  • Integrity: Highest ethical standards and honesty when dealing with patients, visitors, coworkers, partners and the communities where PHS has an impact. All employees are expected to act with authenticity. That is, operating with honesty, strong moral principles, work ethics, sound judgment, dependability and loyalty. This includes doing the right thing, even when no one else is watching.

In respecting and valuing the diversity among our employees, patients and all those with whom we do business, our leaders and employees are expected to ensure that there is a work environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.  This includes a means of addressing aggressions and Microaggressions in all its forms.

Leaders’ Responsibilities

  • Implementing the Diversity & Inclusion Principles, as well as all of its accompanying policies as part of their daily management of employees and in applying policies and practices in a fair and equitable manner.
  • Recognizing unacceptable behavior and taking immediate appropriate action.

Employees’ Responsibilities

  • Incorporating the Diversity & Inclusion Principles, as well as all of its accompanying policies in their daily work and their dealings with colleagues, and members of the community.
  • Notifying their direct supervisors or the Human Resources Department of any concerns as it relates to discrimination and harassment or related employee misconduct.

04.25.2022 -Diversity & Inclusion Council