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| “To
be named the ‘Most
Loved Workplace’ in America is an incredible honor, because it’s all
about our employees, and they mean the world to us,” said Laura
Sorensen, Chief People Officer. “At First Watch, our people are our
purpose, which is why we continue to invest in their quality of life with
important benefits and programs. Our ‘You First’ vision is to create amazing
opportunities for our people, and we take that seriously.”
 On this year’s list, First Watch was specifically recognized for its benefits, including back up child and elder care, made available to all employees earlier this year and inspired by First Watch’s W.H.Y. (We Hear You) Tours. Each year, Sorensen, as well as CEO and President Chris Tomasso and COO Dan Jones, host video conversations with servers, cooks, dishwashers and bussers from across the company to listen and act upon their candid feedback. As a result, tangible and meaningful enhancements have been made to the menu, operating systems, and employee compensation and benefit offerings. In 2024 alone, First Watch leadership participated in 24 tours with 359 team members, totaling more than 2,100 minutes. The restaurant company also offers all employees free Calm app memberships and telemedicine services with no-out-of-pocket expenses, plus high school diploma and tuition reimbursement programs. In addition, the company has established a training facility at its corporate headquarters—the First Watch Academy of Restaurant Management, known as F.A.R.M.—to which new leaders are invited for a week-long brand experience to learn everything from the company’s history and cultural pillars to leadership and management tools. For more than 40 years, First Watch has fostered a “You First” culture of putting its employees first, so they feel empowered to put their customers first. The restaurant’s one-shift “No Nights Ever” model across its more than 535 restaurants in 29 states allows teams to build deeper connections with each other and enjoy evenings with loved ones. Newsweek’s annual Most Loved Workplaces® list is determined by surveying more than 2.6 million employees from businesses with workforces varying in size from less than 50 to more than 10,000. The coveted list recognizes companies based on employee response around satisfaction and sentiment including the level of respect, collaboration, support and sense of belonging they feel at work. For more information about First Watch and its career opportunities, visit careers.FirstWatch.com. About
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