Personal wellness is multidimensional. Mental and physical health are intricately connected, which is why FTI prioritizes and incorporates caring for our team members’ minds, bodies and souls in all we do. Specifically, FTI has been working hard to change the conversation surrounding mental health with our dedication toward a Culture of Care. We’re focused on supporting the development of respectful and empathetic employees and fostering a supportive, caring and safe environment where mental health conversations are normalized.
In response to an employee workplace wellness survey in 2021, we found that nearly 60% of team members wanted more support from the organization regarding mental health. With an executive sponsor, FTI pulled together a cross-functional Workplace Culture Taskforce made up of leaders from across the organization and at all levels to identify ways we can promote a caring and supportive culture. The more we can talk about mental health, the more we hope to ensure everyone realizes that it’s OK to not be OK and that asking for help and support is a sign of strength. Our focus is on being proactive rather than reactive and ensuring we have all the proper tools and resources in place for our team members and their families to take the utmost care of their total well-being.
Step 1: Making a commitment
It all starts with commitment. FTI encourages all team members to sign a Culture of Care pledge. Team members pledge to do their part to build a culture where everyone feels safe, respected, valued and accepted. When an individual decides to start their career with FTI, it’s essential that we have clear expectations from the start that we have a special culture here and we hold everyone up to the same standards of empathy, kindness and respect.
Step 2: Developing a plan
To ensure our team members have access to various mental health resources, FTI created two tracks of mental well-being training — one for leaders and one for all employees. Leader training modules are required for all leaders to equip and prepare them for conversations and/or situations around mental health while providing strategies to safely respond to mental health crises. All-employee training modules center around understanding common mental health conditions, using strategies to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and spotting warning signs for mental health issues.
In 2024, again in response to direct team member feedback, FTI transitioned to an enhanced Employee Assistance Program, which offers expanded services to team members and their families with quicker access to mental health care. It offers instant access to individualized care from self-guided programs and mental health coaching to therapy and medication management; care options that align with personal preferences and lifestyles, including in-person, video conferencing and text messaging; and 24/7 access to an in-house care navigator team to help guide their mental health journey. Additionally, the investment in whole-person health also carries across our health insurance. FTI has continued to enhance our benefit plan offerings, such as $0 copays for both primary care and mental health care, without increasing cost to our team members for the third consecutive year.
Step 3: Taking action
FTI’s Time to Recharge paid time off benefit allows us to emphasize the importance of mental health and taking time off to support our well-being. Each full- and part-time team member receives two hours of paid time off every month outside of their typical PTO hours to use toward self-care, training or professional health services. Since introducing Time to Recharge in August 2021, 92% of our employees have taken advantage of this benefit with more than 110,000 hours used! We highlight employee stories each month on ways they are taking time to recharge, which helps individuals relate to one another and normalize taking time for themselves.
FTI also practices Culture of Care check-ins, which provide an easy way for team members to share how they are doing, ask for help, or gain a listening ear from a fellow FTI team member. Check-ins can be a routine part of the day or happen in the moment when a team member may be feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Many of these check-ins occur during team meetings, 1:1s or group huddles. We want to encourage open and supportive conversations — allowing a safe space for team members to feel like they can talk to teammates so that they can get the help that they may need. Checking in on our employees is essential to make sure their headspace is in the right spot and they can do their job safely and productively.
People first
FTI’s wellness program is just one example of how we have been making long-term investments in supporting our people. When you put your people first, everything else falls into place. We’ve taken pride in the fact that we’ve been named one of the Top 100 Healthiest Employers in America for eight years, as well as achieved the platinum-level Bell Seal Certification through Mental Health America for the past three years. Most recently, FTI was recognized through Construction Working Minds with the Mental Health Visionary Award for the large company category. Caring for the whole person and putting our team members first allows us to achieve these recognitions, and enjoy a safe, healthy and productive work environment.
