Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center

Today, Chick-fil-A is celebrating one of its most meaningful traditions, Founder’s Day – a day for Operators, Staff and Chick-fil-A Alumni to take time to connect and reflect on the life of S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A. Founder’s Day is celebrated annually, around the anniversary of the opening of the Dwarf Grill, Truett’s first restaurant (now known as the Dwarf House), in 1946. This year will be the 10th annual Founder’s Day, with a theme of “legacy” to reflect on S. Truett Cathy’s inspiring legacy.  Hear what one staffer has to say about Founder’s Day: “Founder’s Day is a special moment for our organization to pause and remember our Founder, S. Truett Cathy, and how he built this business while caring for those around him. This time serves as a reminder that our culture, our secret sauce, began with him. Our theme this year is “Legacy” and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Truett than to reflect on our lives and the legacy we are all leaving, too.” - Ashley Houchins, Culture

“I had been working in one of the Big Four accounting and audit firms, and I started to wonder if there was another role out there that would be more in alignment with my long-term goals, desires and values. Coming from that background, there are long stretches of time where you’re unable to prioritize family. As I started considering moving out of the Big Four, I was asking a lot of questions at my interviews about work-life balance. I asked my interviewers about how much time they got to spend with their families. At Chick-fil-A, Inc., my interviewers weren’t just finding ways to spend time with their families. It was clear they also were working in a culture that prioritized family and supported employees in doing that too. The stories I heard ranged from staffers being supported while they handled major life events like illness in their families — to staffers being encouraged to attend their kids’ sporting events. There’s a real effort here to make sure the Corporate Support Center staff can be present for the moments that matter most. And once I started my role at Chick-fil-A, I felt showered with care. I felt valued for more than just my work product. Instead, here I’m valued for who I am as a person.” — Chase Kelly, CPA, Restaurant Cash Management and Payroll Services Team  #Accounting #WorkLifeBalance #LifeatChickfilAInc 

“When I was considering leaving one of the Big Four accounting firms, I was afraid that going from public accounting to taking on a single role in a single industry would be locking myself in — that I would no longer have the opportunity to gain a breadth of expertise and grow in my career. What I didn’t account for was the way Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s people leaders are committed to a model of servant leadership. People leaders here don’t just care about your work product. They’re also invested in your development and your career. They advocate for you.  From day one here, your leader is encouraging you to identify what you enjoy and what you don’t enjoy. Then they work with you to build toward a future path that energizes you and that you’re passionate about. Of course, results are important. But at Chick-fil-A, Inc. there’s an equal focus on relationships. There’s a real network around you that supports you while you’re learning and then encourages you to keep growing and learning. That’s what makes this a place where you would have to try to get bored.”  — Chase Kelly, CPA, Restaurant Cash Management and Payroll Services Team #Accounting #PublicAccounting #LifeatChickfilAInc 

We know life is filled with both — the little things and the big moments. We want to know how you acknowledge both.

When Meredith Ford became a first-time mom, she felt the culture of care that first attracted her to Chick-fil-A in a new way — through the emphasis on work-life balance and spending time with her children. #MothersDay #WorkingParents

“We’re using edge computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and other technologies to build the restaurant of the future — while still holding onto the signature hospitality and care that defines Chick-fil-A.”    — Jake Wasdin, Restaurant Platform Engineering Team    #edgecomputing #tech #LifeatChickfilAInc 

Our Digital Transformation & Technology department’s signature hackathon event, Ignite, blends the exploration of emerging technologies with S. Truett Cathy's spirit of helping people, having fun, and trying something new. DTT staff members step away from their daily work to assemble into volunteer teams and experiment with digital technology. Culminating with a department-wide expo to showcase new ideas and prototypes, Ignite is a forum for DTT Staff to Pursue What's Next.

“Since I was a kid, I thought I was going to grow up to become a tech innovator. I really admired some of the Big Tech leaders, and I imagined that one day I’d work in one of their organizations. I never expected that I’d satisfy my urge to build groundbreaking technology at a company that sells chicken, but that’s exactly what’s happened for me on Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s Restaurant Platform Engineering Team.    At Chick-fil-A, I have a really caring team. I have a great work-life balance. I work with colleagues and leaders who care about me as an individual. But it doesn’t stop there. I also get to work on really interesting, groundbreaking technology.    I love working on new things. I love that we’re always thinking about what’s next — In fact, one of Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s core values is We Pursue What’s Next.     In the work my team is doing, we’re building an edge computing platform in every restaurant. Our technology teams are using edge computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and other technologies to build the restaurant of the future — while still holding onto the signature hospitality and care that defines Chick-fil-A.    Working here, there are always opportunities to learn new things, be challenged in new ways, and identify new problems to solve.”    — Jake Wasdin, Restaurant Platform Engineering Team    #edgecomputing #tech #LifeatChickfilAInc 

“I’ve always loved to tinker. As a kid, I was always around computers and technology. That was just my mindset.    I love that even now, working at Chick-fil-A, Inc. on the Restaurant Platform Engineering Team, one day I’m in a strategy meeting with the company’s technology leadership — and the next I’m taking apart computers and swapping out components, testing the next generation of edge computing solutions.     The work we’re doing is creating impact at scale, but I still get to carry my toolkit.”    — Jake Wasdin, Restaurant Platform Engineering Team    #edgecomputing #tech #LifeatChickfilAInc 

“When I first started working at Chick-fil-A, Inc., the biggest thing that stood out to me was that staffers here slow down and care to get to know you as a person. The people who work here are so humble and so transparent. I wasn’t used to that. I noticed the people leaders here were honest about themselves and who they were. They weren't afraid to share about their weaknesses and any failures. That helped create this culture of, ‘It’s OK to fail’ and ‘We don’t expect perfection.’  Leaders also support our well-being. Every staffer gets wellness hours, and we use them to care for ourselves while still delivering for the franchisee Operators, team members, customers, and fellow staffers we serve. So if I feel the need to go on a hike one day, or to take a break for my mental health, I can do that. Above all, the people I work with really want me to succeed. They want to see me do well. At Chick-fil-A, Inc., I find that people are always ready to help and willing to take the time to teach me things. Everyone seems humble but also so smart, motivated and driven. It's really exciting to get to work alongside ambitious people who care about doing a good job and who are so excited about what we’re working on.” — Abbi Watkins, Tech Strategy Team #SoftwareEngineer #Failure #LifeatChickfilAInc