Fluor Canada wins award for detailed approach to absence management

“It feels great to win this award,” says Kourtnee Plume, regional director of human resources at Fluor Canada. “I’m glad that we’ve been recognized because we’ve been working so hard on our wellness programs and this shows we’ve been progressing and doing the right things.”

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Offering multiple programs to address absence management is key to a successful workplace, she adds, noting the company’s comprehensive policies provide a framework and structure for employees to feel supported, while the flexibility built into how and where employees work has become an integral part of absence management by allowing employees to maintain a proper work-life balance.

Mental health is also one of the company’s top priorities when considering absence management, notes Plume. Fluor’s leadership team meets with a rotating group of employees on a monthly basis to address questions and hold discussions around mental health. “We know from all our internal data that mental health is one of our primary concerns and we want to make sure we’re taking care of our employees proactively through our absence management offerings.”

In addition to meetings, the company has an employee resource group with a strategic focus on wellness that provides employees with the tools to thrive under its four pillars of health: mental, physical, financial and social.

Compared to the percentage of total population insured for short-term disability, Fluor continues to experience a low rate of disability claims, says Plume. “Overall, when we look at our STD incidence, it remains lower than the industry benchmark and it has consistently for the past four years.”

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