Employee Resource Group Spotlight
In today’s dynamic workplace, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie among employees is more crucial than ever. KBR’s employee resource groups (ERGs) play a pivotal role in achieving this goal, providing a platform for employees to connect, share experiences and celebrate their unique identities.
Over the past few months, KBR’s ERGs have been buzzing with activity, organizing a mix of engaging events that have not only strengthened connections within each group, but have also enriched the overall company culture. Let's delve into the highlights!
Celebrating World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a perfect occasion to celebrate and promote mental health and well-being in the workplace, and this year, KBR went all out. It all started with the Baton Challenge, which kicked off in May to honor Mental Health Month and finished in Houston on World Mental Health Day (WMHD), October 10. Throughout the four-month period, the custom KBR mental health baton traveled the world from the U.K., to India, to Australia, and finally to the U.S. More than 3,000 people were reached at in-person events at KBR sites, and there were nearly 11,000 virtual interactions.
To celebrate World Mental Health Day and the arrival of the baton in Houston, KBR’s Global Well-being and Mental Health Committee along with ERG OK NoW (Network of Well-being) hosted a huge celebration to bring awareness to mental health issues and offer resources on how to manage stressors, build resilience and reach out for help.
The day began with a mental wellness panel discussion on relevant mental health topics featuring members of KBR’s executive leadership team. KBR’s Well-being Ambassadors showcased the nine new Keys to Mental Fitness created by KBR’s Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) department, including eating better, sleeping better, moving better, creating change, managing stress, reconnecting, getting help, enhancing focus and finding meaning. KBR ERGs Pride and Allies and MERGE joined the effort to raise awareness of mental health resources and drive positive change. And there was also a visit from local therapy dog group, Faithful Paws, along with a yoga and Zumba session for KBR employees.
WMHD Around the World
- At the Wilmington, Delaware, office, OK NoW and the Well-being Ambassadors served up some hot, comforting soup, brought in pet therapy for the office, presented Doodling for Mental Health, and formed a team to participate in the local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk, where KBR earned third place in fundraising.
- At our Leatherhead, U.K. site, free massages were available, the office hosted their usual Tea and Talk, which also included gifting well-being kits, and everyone was invited for a coffee, cake and a chat.
- In Iraq, the ASPIRE ERG held a virtual session on mental health awareness along with creating a ”Well-being Wall,“ where everyone could write positive affirmations, share tips and advice on coping with stress or challenges, and post photos or drawings that inspire them or make them happy.
ADAPT Launches, Promotes Disability Inclusion
This fall, KBR was excited to launch its newest ERG called ADAPT (Abled and Disabled Allies Partnering Together), which exists to promote disability inclusion. All employees were recently invited to celebrate the official launch, either virtually or in person, at one of seven KBR office locations throughout the U.S., including Houston, Huntsville, Chantilly, Lexington Park, Fulton, Clearfield and Oklahoma City. Each launch party had refreshments, ADAPT-branded swag and exciting prizes! The ADAPT team is excited for what 2024 can bring and looks forward to engaging more employees in the new year.
Houston Fall Festival
The KBR Well-being Ambassadors and ASPIRE hosted a table at the Houston Fall festival. The ambassadors were able to engage with numerous employees about their mental health benefits and guide them on how to download the meQuilibrium (meQ) app. If an employee downloaded the app or if they correctly answered a question, they were able to receive an OK NoW bag or yoga mat. Question topics included KBR benefits, like Hello Heart, meQ, the Well-being Ambassadors, the KBR employee support program, and the newest addition, Lyra. A few employees also took this time to speak to ambassadors about what support they need and give feedback on the multiple benefits and programs KBR offers.
Armed Forces Community Supports Wounded Warrior Project, Honors Remembrance Day
The U.S. Armed Forces Community (AFC) ERG partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to host a 5K race in Dayton, Ohio, on October 16. The Carry Forward® 5K directly supports life-changing programs for America's wounded warriors. This team-building event allowed ERG members to show collective support of combat-wounded veterans and WWP’s mission of honoring, empowering and helping injured veterans achieve their highest ambitions. As a team, the AFC raised over $2,500 that will directly benefit our nation’s wounded warriors!
The U.K. AFC held its annual Remembrance Day ceremony and breakfast at its Leatherhead campus, which included a two-minute moment of silence at 11 a.m. to pause and pay respects to the armed forces of both past and present. The ERG was proud to come together with veterans, colleagues and the Royal British Legion, who tirelessly raise funds and awareness remembering those who sacrifice so much every day.
Pride and Allies U.S. Officially Launch on National Coming Out Day
Pride and Allies U.S. was excited to host their official launch for the Houston, Lexington Park, Oklahoma City, Dayton and Clear Lake sites. Each site had a ceremony on National Coming Out Day on October 11 with site-specific activities to celebrate.
ASPIRE Celebrates Black History Month, Diwali and International Men’s Day
Throughout the fall, the U.K. chapter of ASPIRE hosted more than 200 employees at the Leatherhead campus and 150+ employees virtually across the globe for a variety of events. Its Black History Month Celebration on October 19 included a presentation on “The Power of an Idea” led by Ije McDougall, and on November 15, they celebrated Diwali followed by International Men’s Day on November 22. In the upcoming year, ASPIRE is excited to come together for more events such as Lunar New Year, International Women’s Day, Eid and International Women in Engineering Day, along with their go-to “power hours” highlighting the group’s pillars of gender, race, culture and disability.
