Kohler Co

Erin Schad

Erin Schad oversees the U.S. well-being program at Kohler Co., leading initiatives that align with the company’s overall well-being strategy. In this role, she plans and implements annual wellness events nationwide, manages U.S. mental health benefits and collaborates with departments across the organization to strengthen associate health and engagement.

Kohler is committed to cultivating a company culture that prioritizes care and openness regarding mental health.  However, creating meaningful change requires more than just a designation and Kohler has fully supported the work we've undertaken over the past seven years to ensure this happens. Recently, we launched the Kohler Recreation Program in Kohler, WI, which is also part of my responsibilities. The goal of this program is to create opportunities for our associates and families to build meaningful connections both at work and in their personal lives. It is designed to foster a sense of belonging and connection through inclusive and enjoyable activities.

In 2019, we partnered with an external consultant to create a mental health leader guide. This included formal training for over 1,000 people leaders, supplemental videos and a comprehensive guide available to all associates. We updated this guide in 2025 to ensure its relevance and expanded its application to associates globally. To encourage participation, we are launching quarterly podcasts featuring leaders who will promote various themes from the leadership guide for supporting associate mental health & safety. I believe it is essential to establish an internal structure that is first focused on our people leaders, before introducing additional programming, such as training sessions and mental health initiatives.

“Creating meaningful change requires more than just a designation and kohler has fully supported the work we’ve undertaken over the past seven years to ensure this happens”

As we expanded our focus on mental health, we have also introduced initiatives, such as a business resource group (BRG) dedicated solely to this cause, called HeadsUP BRG. Additionally, I initiated the Annual #IWillListen Mental Health Awareness Walk in 2019, which began in Kohler, WI and has since grown into a global event with in-person activities taking place worldwide.

Building Company Culture Through Mental Health

Implementing mental health training benefits both individual associates and their overall success and sustainability. At Kohler, these trainings influence the organization in several key ways:

○ Overall Associate Well-being:  Mental health is one of the four dimensions of well-being in our Kohler Choose Well…Live Well program. By offering these trainings, we not only enhance mental health but also empower associates to positively impact those around them—at work, at home and in the community.

○ Improved Workplace Culture: It is crucial for Kohler to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. This involves fostering an environment where open discussions about mental health are encouraged while equipping associates with the necessary tools to support those who may be struggling.

○ Increased Productivity and Reduced Absenteeism: Mental health significantly affects both productivity and absenteeism, though demonstrating this connection with data can be challenging. Nevertheless, the importance of these factors cannot be overstated.

We measure success by overall participation and identify specific regions where we need to focus more training efforts. For example, if I receive a higher number of critical incident requests from a particular location, I will meet with that leadership team to discuss training opportunities that can better support their people leaders. Additionally, we solicit feedback from all associates who complete each training. We review this data, and if it highlights areas for improvement, we meet with our vendor partners to discuss possible enhancements before launching the next training session.

Community, Technology and Human Touch

At Kohler, I invest significant time analysing our engagement data from the previous year, reviewing which associates actively participated with our benefit partners and reviewing general feedback I've received throughout the year to develop my upcoming program calendar. I also utilize feedback and insights from my two passion teams, which some may refer to as "wellness committees." One represents the Kohler, WI campus, while the other consists of HR and people leaders from our other U.S. locations. They serve as "boots on the ground" and their insights are invaluable, ensuring that programming is meaningful to our associates across the country.

I think there is a delicate balance between utilizing AI and maintaining real human interaction in our programming. We implement AI in a targeted way, particularly in how we navigate benefits with our partners. This approach ensures we provide relevant information to individuals at the right time, personalizing their well-being journey as much as possible. We use tools such as chatbots with our benefit partners, employing predictive analytics to offer the most relevant programming and content creation to remain competitive in our communication strategies.

Community partnerships are a key part of our approach to well-being. At Kohler, we prioritize engagement in the areas where our associates work and live, which guides our well-being strategy. I currently serve on three different committees and coalitions within Sheboygan County. Our program also collaborates with local nonprofits to raise awareness about resources available to our families outside the workplace. It's important to recognize that not everyone wants to participate in work-sponsored programming; however, that doesn’t mean they don’t need support. Many are more open to engaging in community-based activities.