Optimae LifeServices announces results of 2026 DEIB employee survey

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August 25, 2026  – Optimae LifeServices is pleased to announce the results of its 2026 DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) employee survey, an annual, anonymous measurement of the employee-owned organization’s DEIB initiatives. 2026 marks the fifth year that employees have completed the survey.
 
Of the employees who responded to the survey, 93% said they feel a sense of belonging at Optimae. 93% also said they think Optimae values diversity. Comparatively, 2025 data reported by employee recognition organization Achievers and business magazine Forbes, respectively, showed that 70% of American workers report not feeling a sense of belonging at work, and 58% of American workers feel their workplace does not value diversity enough.
 
“DEIB helps ensure we provide our customers, our colleagues and our communities with the highest quality of care,” said Sheryl “Sheri” Gill, Optimae LifeServices president. “Optimae is Latin for ‘As best one can’ — that includes providing services that are good enough for me or my loved ones.”
 
According to SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), diversity and inclusion efforts have positive impacts on workplace culture, help ensure equal opportunities and assist in meeting the high demand for attracting and retaining skilled workers. 89% of respondents to Optimae’s 2025 DEIB survey said they feel Optimae is a safe and supportive workplace for underrepresented individuals.
 
“True belonging isn’t achieved passively,” said Holly Stevenson, director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) at Optimae. “It requires a genuine willingness in all of us to engage in thoughtful reflection and insightful conversations. I have immense pride in these survey results, and I have even greater pride in working for a company that is intentional in enabling individuals to thrive.”
 
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About Optimae LifeServices
 
Optimae LifeServices Inc. assists individuals with their mental health, visible and invisible disabilities, and other barriers, providing health care and human services for customers living in more than 50 central, southeastern, northeastern and south-central Iowa counties. For more than three decades, we have equipped our customers with supports and services that encourage choice, empowerment and community integration. Our programs include community-based, behavioral health, home health, rehabilitation and residential care services. We advocate for the rights and needs of more than 5,000 Iowans each year, providing the quality of care we would want for our own family.

Optimae LifeServices announces results of 2026 DEIB employee survey