Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are an important part of who we are as a company and broadly outlines the comprehensive efforts we are taking to create a more inclusive workplace. DE&I is focused on people, processes, policies, and products. At Maximus, we foster a culture that respects and values individual contributions and differences that spark innovation, leadership, and exceptional performance. Encouraging DE&I is a personal and business imperative.

Our ongoing efforts

Central to our mission

Our mission of Helping Government Serve the People® has guided our business for decades. We are entrusted to assist some of the most vulnerable citizens in America each day, and in doing so, to treat each and every person we serve – and each other – with dignity and respect. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our company identity, and we are proud to contribute to and positively impact our communities.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership

Our Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is part of our Human Resources Leadership Team and is responsible for implementing an inclusive strategy that will include active listening from leadership and welcome feedback from all employees.

Year Up partnership

Maximus partners with Year Up to help close the opportunity divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experiences, and support that will empower them to successfully launch careers. Year Up helps Maximus access a diverse pool of candidates who are otherwise not reached with traditional recruitment channels, and tap into a pipeline of bright, skilled talent who provide fresh perspectives and ideas.

Posse Foundation veterans programming

In coordination with the Posse Foundation, Maximus participated in a summer program to provide professional development support to all U.S. veterans who will be entering college in the fall at the Posse Foundation veterans program-designated schools. The program includes tutorials on writing resumes and LinkedIn profiles, a workshop on how to undergo a behavioral interview, and an introduction to career readiness competencies.

Named one of The Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes
2021 and 2022

Inclusive recruitment

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team works to increase inclusion awareness and education efforts, support employees, and promote inclusive recruitment efforts.

For instance, Maximus held a series of interview days specific to the veteran and disability communities. Through partnerships with Vocational Rehabilitation offices around the U.S., we have empowered their counselors to submit individuals with disabilities and veteran candidates directly into our interview pipeline. The pilot scaled to more than 30 engagement centers in 2019.

Since January 2018, the Maximus DiversABILITY Team created and delivered disability and veteran awareness training to more than 500 stakeholders and hiring managers across more than 31 of our largest citizen engagement centers in the U.S.

Top employer nationwide for veterans

Maximus is ranked in the Military Times Best for Vets: Employers 2020 rankings as a top employer nationwide for veterans. In particular, we are cited for having especially high scores by Military Times due to our excellent retention support programs as well as our recruitment and employment practices.

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What does DE&I mean at Maximus?

Just as we are all different, so is the way we communicate. It’s why having common language matters.

Diversity

Diversity is the representation of the spectrum of our identities and differences (race, ethnicity, national origin, culture, tribe, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic and social status, thinking, experiences, and communication styles, etc.).

Equity

Equity is the fair treatment for all people in terms of access to resources, opportunities, information, and advancement, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate historic and contemporary barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. Striving for equity involves intentionally increasing justice and fairness within the policies, practices, and procedures of institutions and systems, as well as in their distribution of resources and authority. Equity is good for everyone. Approaches designed for more equitable access of one group ends up improving access for all groups.

Inclusion

Inclusion creates a culture of belonging that genuinely invites the full participation and contribution of everyone across differences. It focuses on bringing traditionally excluded individuals and groups into all spaces, activities, processes, and decision-making in ways that ensure equal access to resources and opportunities.

Why does DE&I matter at Maximus?

Diversity

Diversity matters because it allows us to learn and grow from others. It provides us the opportunity to understand topics and problem solve from other perspectives and fosters personal growth and development. It gives us the confidence to come together as our authentic selves and improves collaboration and innovation in our workplace. The bottom line is this: it helps us to do our jobs better and strengthens connections with the people we serve while working in an environment where we feel appreciated and valued. Nurturing diversity in our company as a core value is critical in securing us as a profitable organization that employs thousands of people who provide services to millions across the world.

Equity

Equity matters because being intentional about providing the supports that some people need, particularly those historically disadvantaged, ends up helping everyone. This fosters an environment where everyone benefits and can excel together.

Inclusion

Inclusion matters because it fosters a strong and welcoming work environment. Inclusion promotes innovation, attracts and retains more talent, and creates more opportunities for business growth. Inclusion allows individuals to feel a sense of belonging, as well as the commitment and support from their colleagues and the organization. Inclusion makes people feel valued which makes them feel good about coming to work and doing their best.

Our evolving DE&I strategy

Our DE&I strategy is one that will continue to evolve based on ongoing data collection and analysis, needs of our colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders, and best and promising practices, in addition to the conditions of our ever changing world.

Global efforts

United Kingdom

Maximus UK encourages differences that spark innovation and exceptional performance. We have a variety of inclusion efforts underway and have signed on as signatories as part of our public commitment to several efforts including the Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box campaign for individuals with previous convictions, Disability Confident, and the Prompt Payment Code for our supply chain.

Australia

MAX Solutions recognizes that Diversity and Inclusion practices are essential in promoting fairness and equality in our company and established a Charter to outline our commitment to improving diversity and inclusion accordingly. For instance, as a Disability Confident Recruiter recognized by the Australian Network on Disability, MAX Solutions approaches our own recruitment practices to promote the inclusion of people with disability.

Canada

Maximus in Canada believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial values in our organization. Our team is dedicated to understanding and supporting underrepresented communities as we believe that it is our responsibility to remove any barriers that may prevent equity and inclusion. We believe that ongoing training and education are essential to help us apply an equitable approach in all aspects of our business.

CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion

As the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace, Maximus’ work with CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion is critical. In doing so, Maximus will engage with other CEO Action signatories, provide engagement opportunities for employees, and drive thought leadership on DE&I.

The Valuable 500

The Valuable 500 is a global movement putting disability inclusion on the business leadership agenda, calling for 500 of the most influential business leaders to ignite systemic change. By committing to the Valuable 500, Maximus has promised to:

Put disability inclusion on their leadership agenda
Take one action for colleagues or customers
Share that action with the Valuable 500 and with our company as part of the campaign

These signatories further complement our Global Human Rights Statement and U.K. Human Rights Statement which reflect the principles in the UN Global Compact and the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights.