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In a corporate world dominated by AI and digital platforms, a trend is growing among leaders, who have turned to a simpler method of building workplace culture by giving out handwritten notes of gratitude.
Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch, the $1 billion breakfast and lunch brand, handwrites monthly congratulations to cooks, servers, and dishwashers reaching long-service milestones. With a workforce of more than 15,000, he has written over 500 notes since becoming CEO in 2018.
“I just love people that pick their lane, they love it, and they don’t want to do anything else,” Tomasso told Fortune. “They want to be the best dishwasher they can, and so I want to thank and reward loyalty, longevity, [and] the contributions that they make to the company.”
From Hard Rock to handwritten culture
Tomasso traces his approach back to his twenties, when he received a handwritten thank-you from the CEO of Hard Rock Café. He still keeps it. The experience convinced him that recognition doesn’t need to be elaborate to be meaningful.
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