Meeting Details
Key Takeaways
- Move from awareness to action. Transform well-being commitments into practical programs employees can access and trust.
- Empower peer advocates. Equip employees to recognize needs, provide support, and connect colleagues with professional resources.
- Support the whole person. Extend well-being strategies beyond traditional benefits to address employees personal aspirations and life goals.
- Listen before expanding. Strengthen programs through employee feedback and prioritize resources that make a meaningful difference.
Next Practices Weekly welcomed Jason Westenskow, Vice President of Human Resources; Mariana Barahona, EAP Manager; and Eli Embleton, Learning & Development Leader and Dream Manager at Zachry Corporation, for an insightful discussion on transforming employee well-being from an organizational commitment into meaningful action. The speakers shared how Zachry's people-first culture has inspired practical initiatives, including its growing network of Mental Health Champions, Z Cares employee assistance resources, and Thrive Lights personal development program. Together, these efforts demonstrate how employee support can extend beyond traditional benefits to strengthen trust, connection, and workforce resilience.
Cohosted by i4cp's Tom Stone and Nathaniel Hudson, the conversation explored how Zachry operationalizes its core values - Every Person Matters, Together We Can Do Great Things, and This Is More Than a Job - across its diverse workforce. The discussion highlighted the importance of leadership commitment, peer-to-peer advocacy, accessible mental health resources, and creating an environment where employees feel comfortable seeking support.
Key Topics Discussed
- Building a Network of Mental Health Champions: Zachry's program grew from 15 trained champions in 2023 to more than 130, creating trusted peer connections that help employees access mental health support and resources.
- Making Employee Assistance More Accessible: Through its Z Cares program, Zachry connects employees with a dedicated EAP manager, supported by trained advocates who help normalize conversations about mental health. The speakers also described strong employee assistance program utilization.
- Supporting Personal Dreams and Holistic Well-Being: The Dream Manager role and Thrive Lights initiative help employees identify personal aspirations and build meaningful goals across physical, mental, financial, and other dimensions of well-being.
- Embedding Well-Being into Organizational Culture: Executive sponsorship, frontline participation, mental health training, and ongoing employee listening help turn Zachry's values into practices that reach employees across different locations and business units.
For senior HR executives, Zachry offers a practical example of how organizations can embed holistic well-being into their culture and day-to-day operations. From expanding a small pilot of Mental Health Champions into a companywide support network to helping employees pursue meaningful personal goals, this session provides actionable insights for leaders seeking to build a healthier, more connected, and engaged workforce. Watch the recording to discover how Zachry is turning its commitment to employee well-being into tangible practices.
To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.