Functional Focus
Each quarter, KBR Link’s Functional Focus highlights some of the teams behind the business and explains how their work, recent wins, improvements, and new initiatives affect you and benefit KBR.
In this edition, we’re pleased to feature KBR’s People Function and some of the exciting benefits they’re rolling out in 2023 to help empower our people.
Rooted, Yet Untethered
KBR’s new benefits offer a foundation for growth while allowing unprecedented workplace flexibility.
KBR’s People Function serves our 30,000 employees by empowering them to achieve their full potential within the company and cultivating an environment where employees can belong, connect and grow. The People team touches every part of the KBR business, whether career progression planning, benefits, compensation, the employee support program, talent development or new initiatives like KBR Pathways.
They’re also dedicated to promoting the total well-being of employees around the globe. The Benefits team creates competitive, unique benefits packages that help KBR recruit and retain the best and the brightest minds worldwide. They also develop and administer a broad range of health and wellness, financial, education, and other customized benefits that align with KBR’s corporate values and our commitment to ESG (environmental, social and governance principles).
In early 2023, KBR announced Grow With KBR, a new sustainability initiative in partnership with the nonprofit One Tree Planted. For every new member of our global team of teams, KBR will plant a tree in one of four regions: North America, Latin America, Asia and Africa. This addition to KBR’s onboarding process not only reflects our commitment to ESG, but it is also symbolic of how KBR is a place for employees to belong, connect and grow — to put down roots and enjoy a rewarding career.
“Early in the onboarding process, we introduce new hires to the concept of ONE KBR and our team-of-teams values,” said Kristin Davis, director of Human Resources (HR) for Sustainable Technology Solutions. “We have such a diverse workforce and wide range of services, but no matter which continent employees live on, business unit they work in, or language they speak, our ONE KBR values are a constant for all. This Grow With KBR initiative recognizes KBR’s commitment to each individual, connects us through our stewardship of the planet, and signifies the importance we place on our environmental, social and governance principles.”
New Benefits Coming Soon
KBR is able to attract top talent to grow with us because we do meaningful work around the globe, but also because KBR has top-notch benefits and industry-leading workplace flexibility. As part of KBR’s commitment to employee well-being, KBR will be launching two new benefits in the second quarter of 2023. While more details will be available as these new offerings are rolled out, they demonstrate the benefits of agile work at a global company.
Flex Work
We are taking our agile work practices a step further. This new benefit will allow some categories of employees to work for up to four weeks per year in another location or country with manager and HR approval. Employees can add to this experience by using PTO (paid time off)/vacation at either end of the four weeks to travel and explore another culture with friends or family. KBR is committed to making these agile work policies available to as many employees as possible. However, due to the nature of KBR’s work on customer sites or at secure facilities, not all employees will be able to take advantage of this benefit.
Sabbatical Leave
In support of our employees’ mental health and well-being, this benefit will allow employees to take time off to recharge, with a commitment to return to KBR after a specific period of time. Managers and HR will evaluate sabbatical leave requests on a case-by-case basis to ensure business delivery is maintained.
You Asked, KBR Listened
The Grow With KBR initiative and expanded global benefits are a direct result of employee feedback from the 2022 People Perspectives survey. It’s no coincidence that the first ONE KBR value is “We Value Our People.” Our people are indeed the heart of everything we do, and one of the most effective ways to connect and receive feedback from employees is through our People Perspectives survey. The feedback we receive truly leads to actionable plans and the roll out of new benefits such as these.
“While KBR is focused on delivering the highest quality of work to our clients, our People function is dedicated to designing special and unique benefits that promote the highest quality of life for our employees,” said Valerie Hulse, vice president of Global Total Rewards, HR Information System (HRIS), and Mobility. “We’re excited to see employees take advantage of these offerings from KBR.”
