To enhance a culture of caring, Farmers strives to acknowledge, reduce and combat unconscious associations by creating an inclusive, diverse and open-minded work environment where people of all cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are heard.

In 2014, Farmers implemented Borderless Thinking training, a program designed to help the organization deliver on its commitment to an inclusive and diverse culture.

Borderless Thinking provides participants the tools and resources to help:

• See the value in bringing his/her/their authentic self to work every day and how it’s equally important to acknowledge and appreciate when others do the same.
• Explore the nature and prevalence of the unconscious associations that all human beings tend to make and how these associations can affect others.
• Identify the filters through which individuals view and interpret himself/herself/themselves.
• Practice simple skills to foster inclusion.

Additionally, Farmers commitment to diversity and inclusion is promoted through programs including Claims Leadership Experience (CLE) and Inclusive Leadership Experience (ILE). These programs are designed to help leverage the talent, perspectives and experiences of the organization, while focusing on strengthening the foundation of exemplary, trustworthy leadership and engaged, empowered people.

Since its launch, the Borderless Thinking program has helped to develop the skills and knowledge of the leadership team and the 19,000 plus employees who have completed the online course. All employees and new hires are automatically enrolled in the eLearning module. Furthermore, People leaders complete a more intensive, in-person workshop.

Along with the Borderless Thinking rollout, there are plans in development to begin sharing the CLE/ILE experience with all employees. By reaching as many employees as possible across the organization, Farmers can advance individual and collective commitment to increase inclusion and diversity, belonging and collaboration. 

Anna Porcellino