Key Takeaways
- First Watch hosts an annual We Hear You (W.H.Y.) Tour connecting senior leaders with employees across the country.
- Since the Tour began, First Watch has logged more than 1,200 listening hours with over 1,000 employees.
- A GM Council of 20 nominated members gives monthly feedback directly to the COO.
- First Watch is a verified Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2025 employer with a Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® ranking.
What Does "Listening to Employees" Actually Mean at First Watch?
At many companies, listening to employees means a once-a-year survey that disappears into a spreadsheet. At First Watch, it means showing up in person, logging hundreds of hours of conversation, and making real changes based on what people say. Listening is not a checkbox here. It is built into the culture.
First Watch is a Most Loved Workplace® Certified 2025 employer and a member of the Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces®. That recognition reflects something earned through consistent, genuine action — starting with the way this company treats every voice as worth hearing.
What Is the We Hear You (W.H.Y.) Tour?
The We Hear You Tour — known internally as the W.H.Y. Tour — is First Watch's annual nationwide listening initiative. Senior leaders travel across the country and to the Home Office to meet employees from every part of the business. The goal is simple: listen, learn, and act.
Since the Tour began, First Watch has spoken with more than 1,000 employees and logged more than 1,200 listening hours. Those conversations have led to meaningful improvements in operations, technology, benefits, and compensation. One standout outcome was the creation of The Avocado Post, an internal magazine that celebrates and informs First Watch team members.
This is not a passive exercise. Changes happen — often immediately — because leadership takes what they hear seriously.
How Does the GM Council Give Employees a Seat at the Table?
First Watch's GM Council brings together twenty General Managers who are nominated each year. Each month, they share direct feedback with the company's COO. This keeps decision-making grounded in real, people-focused insight rather than assumptions from the top.
It is a bold approach. Having front-line leaders influence business decisions at the executive level sends a clear signal: every role matters here. Every perspective counts.
Does First Watch Use Technology to Stay Connected with Team Members?
Yes — and in a deeply personal way. First Watch uses an engagement platform to send personalized texts to team members for birthdays and work anniversaries. During moments of crisis, the same tool has been used to check on the safety and wellbeing of employees.
Leaders also hold weekly meetings and complete monthly check-ins with managers. An annual leadership conference brings General Managers from across the country together for two and a half days of learning, motivation, and celebration.
CEO Chris Tomasso takes personal connection even further — handwriting letters to employees on milestone work anniversaries and sending a President's Pin to those who go above and beyond for a customer or colleague. He also hosts in-person fireside chats to stay close to the people who make First Watch run.
How Does Listening Connect to Career Growth at First Watch?
When employees feel heard, they stay. When they stay, they grow. First Watch has set a goal of 60% internal promotions — a direct result of investing in the people already on the team. The "Come Grow with Us" events bring career opportunities to life for team members, with over 3,200 employees invited to 11 events across five markets in 2024 alone.
This is how listening becomes career advancement. First Watch holds the verified Most Loved Workplace® for Career Advancement 2025 badge — and it is backed by real programs, not promises. Read more about how First Watch supports career development and what that can look like for your specific path.
Is First Watch the Right Place for You?
If you want to work somewhere your opinions shape the company, where leadership actually shows up and listens, and where your career can grow from the inside out — First Watch is worth a serious look.
Explore open roles today and join a team that puts You First. Start with the Staff Accountant role or browse all openings on the First Watch careers page.