First Watch Named to Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces for Second Consecutive Year

Leader in Daytime Dining makes the coveted list as the only restaurant company recognized for best-in-business team member sentiment and satisfaction

BRADENTON, Fla., Sept. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Watch, the leading Daytime Dining concept serving breakfast, brunch and lunch with 500 restaurants nationwide, has been named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek and the Best Practice Institute (BPI) for the second year in a row. As the only restaurant to make Newsweek’s list, First Watch was recognized by its more than 12,000 employees for championing a “You First” culture and quality of life that remain unparalleled in the restaurant industry.

The results were determined after surveying more than 2 million employees from businesses with workforces varying in size from 50 to more than 100,000. Newsweek’s list recognizes companies that have created a workplace where employees are at the heart of the business and feel respected, inspired and appreciated.

“Within our restaurants and in the communities we serve, our teams create an occasion that makes people feel good, and is centered around great food, friendly service and, above all else, kindness,” said Laura Sorensen, Chief People Officer at First Watch. “They continuously bring out the best in our business and each other, and for this and all the heart they’ve put in our culture for the last four decades, I’m honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder alongside them in this moment – because truly, it’s theirs to celebrate.”

For 40 years, First Watch has fostered a culture centered upon putting its employees first, so they, in turn, feel empowered to put their customers first. As a part of this “You First” culture, First Watch operates on one-shift a day using a “No Nights Ever” approach, allowing its teams to build deeper connections with each other and enjoy evenings with their family or friends.

As another reflection of its culture and investment in its people, First Watch prioritizes offering resources to help its employees navigate all aspects of their lives. In 2023, the brand began offering an annual membership to Calm and telemedicine services with no out-of-pocket expenses to all its 12,000 employees, both wellness benefits that have been traditionally out of reach for hourly teams in the industry. For years, First Watch has also encouraged team members to explore career possibilities through its free High School Diploma Program, Everyone Gets Graduate Support (EGGS) tuition reimbursement program and First Watch Academy of Restaurant Management (F.A.R.M.).