We are stronger together

As the connections between us grow, diversity is not an option – it is the way forward. Even the definition of diversity continues to change, as we incorporate a wider spectrum of people. At VA, we believe that our differences are our strength, whether that is our cultural heritage or our life perspective.

By having a diverse and inclusive workplace, we can develop the types of solutions that work for more of our Veterans. The VA Office of Diversity and Inclusion is in the third year of its strategic diversity plan, recognizing that creating a more diverse workplace means putting real metrics to evaluate our efforts.

The team has three overarching goals:

• Diverse Workforce – This effort initially focuses on getting a real measurement of the diversity at VA, as well as understanding the fluctuations in hiring and attrition. This helps us get a real perspective on the shifting landscape of diversity at VA. Using this knowledge, we are developing proactive strategies to attract higher-performing, diverse caregivers, including implementing diversity-focused internship and fellowship programs.
• Inclusive Workplace – Our goal here is to continue to encourage a diverse workforce by maintaining the type of culture and work environment that celebrates different opinions and cultures. This includes a broad spectrum of initiatives, particularly in the many work settings at VA, anything from leadership development to improving cultural awareness.
• Outstanding Public Service – With multiple studies showing that increasing diversity improves performance, we encourage diversity not to meet a quota, but to give our Veterans better care. Our goal here is to continue to evaluate our efforts and build partnerships to ensure we are receptive to people from all different backgrounds and perspectives.

Being a Veteran transcends race, ethnicity or religion. By actively building a better, more diverse workforce, we’ll be able to more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of the Veterans we treat. Go to vacareers.va.gov to make a commitment to serve our Nation’s Veterans.