Our leadership team understands the inherent responsibility they have to champion inclusivity across our company and in everything we do. In North America, our CEO, Mike Hessling, serves as the chair of the Include@GB Committee. This committee works to raise awareness and take proactive steps around key Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matters, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, mental health, and disabilities. The Include@GB Committee champions progress in collaboration with our team members, partners, and communities.
Building Better Outcomes Through Diversity
At Gallagher Bassett, we believe that fostering a culturally diverse and inclusive workforce cultivates unique perspectives and experiences, which drives innovation and helps deliver superior outcomes for our clients.
Our ethical conduct is firmly rooted in The Gallagher Way, and we embody this through our company culture, community involvement, and sustainability initiatives.
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Our People
Understanding and responding to our clients' needs is best accomplished when our people reflect the diversity of our clients, and when their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences are valued.
Our approach to DEI is characterized by modern, inclusive processes, policies, and practices designed to provide every individual at Gallagher Bassett with the greatest potential to thrive. We deliver a comprehensive learning and development program that includes unconscious bias training and encourages inclusive behavior and language.
As an organization, we commemorate DEI celebrations throughout the calendar year to honor the diverse experiences of our team members. Globally, we observe the following, and in each region, we also celebrate additional dates that are meaningful to their local operations, including:
- Black Heritage and History Month
- International Women's Day and Women's History
- LGBTQ+ Pride Month
- Global Diversity Awareness Month
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Driving Diversity in Our Industry
We acknowledge our responsibility to foster diversity in our industry at both the individual and organizational levels. Guided by The Gallagher Way, our people are held accountable for upholding the highest standards of moral and ethical behavior (Tenet #21).
Our organization's commitment to diversity is reflected in the recognition we have received from two well-known organizations: Forbes' Best Employers for Women and its America's Best Employers for Diversity lists, as well as the Human Rights Campaign's designation as the Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. We have also been recognized as a leading employer in the insurance sector and a preferred employer for young talent by numerous industry bodies worldwide.
For many years, Gallagher Bassett has been a firm supporter of Dive In, the global festival promoting diversity and inclusion in the insurance industry. Through workshops, events, and development opportunities, we actively encourage our people to learn the tangible steps we can take to cultivate an inclusive industry and workplace.
Black Insurance Industry Collective™ (BIIC™)
We are also proud to sponsor the Black Insurance Industry Collective™ (BIIC™). Their mission is to accelerate the advancement of Black professionals with the end goal of enhancing the representation of Black leaders in mid-to-executive positions within the insurance industry. BIIC™ facilitates the development of Black talent in the insurance industry by offering educational, networking, and training opportunities.
Championing DEI in Our Community
At Gallagher Bassett, we promote both team and individual engagement in supporting the communities we serve through participation in various charitable organizations. Through our volunteering policy, our people can devote their time to a cause that is close to their hearts.
Your Cause
Through the Your Cause platform, we offer our people the opportunity to have their donations matched. Gallagher Bassett extends donation-matching to over 1,000,000 approved and registered organizations spanning 26 categories and 75+ countries.
Gentle Bear
Established in 2007, Gentle Bear is the result of a collaboration between Gallagher Bassett and various emergency service organizations. Its purpose is to help reduce post-traumatic stress-related injuries for first responders and comfort children in distressing situations. Placed in emergency vehicles and given to children who have undergone traumatic experiences, Gentle Bear provides first responders with a useful aid in their interactions with children. Not only does Gentle Bear comfort the child, but research has shown that the immediate comfort it offers also aids in reducing the negative emotional impact of these incidents on the responder. To date, more than 17,000 Gentle Bears have been distributed to children in need worldwide, with this number continuing to grow each year.
Give Kids the World
Since 2013, Gallagher Bassett employees have participated in the Workers' Compensation Institute's Spirit to Serve event and Gala, which supports Give Kids the World (GKTW) as an integral part of the Workers' Compensation Institute conference. Located on an 84-acre non-profit resort in Central Florida, GKTW Village offers weeklong, expense-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. This includes accommodation, transportation, meals, theme park tickets, and much more.
Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run®
Gallagher Bassett is a proud partner of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) for the Special Olympics. The collaboration raises funds to support the participation, engagement, and recognition of Special Olympics athletes and volunteers. LETR's goal is to build up awareness of the Special Olympics movement, create a brighter future for those with intellectual disabilities, and pave the way for inclusion and acceptance. Through this partnership, Gallagher Bassett extends support to international, regional, and local programs for LETR, including the annual Plane Pull at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Dress for Success
Gallagher Bassett supports Dress for Success and their mission to empower women to achieve economic independence. This is achieved by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools, enabling women to thrive both professionally and personally. Colleagues from Gallagher Bassett lead workshops aimed at inspiring women who are either entering or re-entering the workforce, encouraging them to explore careers in the insurance industry. Through these workshops, we've guided women on how to increase professional visibility, master effective networking, and improve interviewing skills through instruction and role-playing. This empowers participants to secure safer and more prosperous futures.
Building a Sustainable World
Gallagher Bassett invests in sustainable practices that will leave our communities cleaner and healthier than they are today. Through our parent company, Gallagher, we are committed to promoting sustainability and actively supporting the communities where we operate.
We've set an ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions in our direct operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 2050. We recognize that the most substantial reductions in our carbon footprint will come from the availability of renewable energy in our offices and advancements in technology, such as "green" aviation fuel. As such, we are actively exploring realistic and sustainable methods to directly decrease our corporate carbon footprint.
To encourage all of our team members to contribute to the well-being of their communities, we have implemented the "200 Days of Sustainability" challenge. This initiative empowers Gallagher Bassett employees to take meaningful steps toward safeguarding our planet.
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