""I tried to minimize the [CEO] title as best I can when I'm interacting with people," Tomasso said. "I eat lunch in the break room with everybody, which always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away-that I just sit down next to them and bring my lunch and have lunch with them. I think it's a shame that there's that feeling.""
""I just love people that pick their lane, they love it, and they don't want to do anything else," Tomasso told Fortune. "They want to be the best dishwasher they can, and so I want to thank and reward loyalty, longevity, [and] the contributions that they make to the company.""
""Our job is to create an environment where our employees are happy and feel appreciated and they take care of the rest," Tomasso added on LinkedIn. "And they do it better than anyone.""
Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch, handwrites monthly congratulations to cooks and dishwashers celebrating 10-, 20-, and 30-year milestones, having penned over 500 notes for a workforce exceeding 15,000. Tomasso cites a handwritten thank-you he received at 26 as formative and adopts a people-first leadership style that downplays the CEO title. He eats lunch in employee break rooms, sits with staff, and emphasizes rewarding loyalty and longevity. Tomasso believes small, personal gestures build connection, increase appreciation, and help create an environment where employees feel happy and take care of operations and guests.
Read at Fortune
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