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read moreChartwells Higher Education Celebrates its Fourth YouFirst Week to Recognize and Celebrate Associates’ Hard Work Throughout the Year
YouFirst Week is a reflection of Chartwells’ dedication to fostering a company culture that encourages celebrating and lifting each other up
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 9, 2024 – Chartwells Higher Education, a recognized leader in contract food service management, is celebrating YouFirst Week, a company-wide initiative focused on recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of associates, taking place in the second week of October.
YouFirst Week began in 2021 as YouFirst Day, and has since expanded due to its positive reception. The program now dedicates time during both the fall and the spring to giving back to Chartwells Higher Education associates and highlighting resources available to them around physical wellness, mental health, professional development, and more. Teams nationwide have created traditions and fun, themed events with the goal of commemorating associates’ efforts throughout the year.
“Spending time on campuses and really getting involved in conversations with teams is a crucial part of my role, and I thoroughly enjoy getting to know our associates, who are the backbone of our company,” said Eva Wojtalewski, CEO of Chartwells Higher Education. “Through our YouFirst Week initiative, we’re highlighting our people-first philosophy and how we invest in our teams and their development, and providing an opportunity to uplift our leaders and associates.”
Chartwells Higher Education is also highlighting the wide range of benefits available to Compass Group associates, which focus on well-being and include financial, work, life, and health resources.
Celebratory events will be taking place throughout the week on campuses. While events vary, they can include activities such as:
- Hero cards: Associates share handwritten cards or gifts with each other, write hero cards to those who have gone above and beyond, and even receive recognition from students on the Thank a Hero wall.
- Surprise celebrations: Treats and activities pop up throughout the week, as well as community giveback days, photo booths, and more.
- Raffles and prizes: Teams raffle off prizes at meetings, including gift cards, and partner with local businesses and vendors for prizes and other services to add to the celebration.
- Team engagement: Associates are featured as “Heroes Behind the Plate” and community members can share videos and favorite stories across social media.
Chartwells YouFirst Week will be celebrated bi-annually moving forward during both the fall and spring semesters and has become a staple of the company. It allows each campus to celebrate in its own unique way.
