Bay Pines VA Presents Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System recently awarded four teams for their positive percentage in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during the All-Employee Survey for fiscal year 2023.
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System recently awarded its Veteran Experience Office, Lee County Healthcare Center’s Nursing Team 3 (1st Floor, Urgent Care and National Adaptive Trial for PTSD related insomnia), VA Community Care (VACC), and Safety and Occupational Health Team for their positive percentage in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) during the All-Employee Survey for fiscal year 2023.
“The DEI award is a prestigious recognition given to groups that have showcased excellence, improvement, or achieved a positive percentage in discrimination, inclusivity, authenticity, opportunity, and engagement compared to the previous year,” said Bay Pines VA Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Obed Muniz. “The primary objective is to honor groups that are actively promoting a harmonious work environment based on diversity and inclusion, while placing emphasis on civility and respect.”
The evaluation process ensured fairness by setting a threshold of 25 employees which allowed achievements to be highlighted across departments of varying sizes.
“The VACC service demonstrated significant improvement, with a notable reduction in perceptions of discrimination due to their team-building efforts and training programs,” said Muniz. “Also, the Safety and Occupational Health team received their DEI award for fostering a discrimination-free workplace and promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity.”
The Veteran Experience Office and Lee County Healthcare Center’s Nursing Team 3 received their awards for exceptional commitment to DEI by collaborating with leadership, the Equal Employment Opportunity program and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to cultivate a culture of civility and respect.
As Bay Pines VA Health Care System works to promote the ideals of diversity, inclusion, and awareness, interested employees are encouraged to reach out to Victor Turner, Chief DEI Officer/Acting EEO Program Manager for information on how they can create an environment that’s welcoming for all.