Staffing

Noodles & Co treating restaurant employees to freebies

Provided

March 1, 2023

In honor of Employee Appreciation Day (March 3), Noodles & Co is giving workers wearing a uniform from any restaurant a free bowl of noodles between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, a day earlier than the actual day, as it's saving Friday's celebration for its own workers.

"This offer is our way of giving back to all those who make good food moments possible. It doesn't matter if you work at a big restaurant or small, or in the front of the house or back, we're offering free bowls of Noodles for all to take a break and experience what Noodles has to offer," Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer at Noodles & Company, said in a company press release. "We have the highest regard for our team members, and we are committed to putting our people first, which is why we wanted to find an uncommonly good way to extend that mission beyond our team members."

Noodles honors team members
To follow up Thursday's celebration, the chain is turning inward Friday to recognize its 8,000 team members who live the brand's values of, "We Care, We Show Pride, We are Passionate, and We Love Life every day."

As the newest addition to its benefits package, the chain has partnered with WellCents to provide eligible team members with a comprehensive financial wellness program. Through WellCents, team members can plan their financial future, set financial goals and speak one-on-one to financial experts. In addition to this benefit, all team members have access to LifeWorks, Noodles' employee assistance program, which provides financial planning support in addition to mental health resources and counseling, according to Sue Petersen, executive vice president of inclusion, diversity and people at Noodles & Company.

"We take great pride in caring for our team members with the same Uncommon Goodness that our team members so generously serve our guests each and every day," Petersen said in the release. "While our benefits make a big impact, we believe small actions do too, which is why each of our restaurants will also host a celebration on Employee Appreciation Day filled with favorite foods and festivities to thank our team members for their dedication."

Over the last two years, Noodles has continued to invest in its benefits program, including an immigration reimbursement stipend, a general manager equity partner program, and Noodles Resource Groups for its LGBTQ+ and BIPOC team members. Noodles is committed to supporting team members in all aspects of their lives and offers a phase-out/phase-in maternity program; six weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave; adoption and surrogacy assistance; extensive paid time off; and much more, according to the release.

Founded in 1995, Noodles & Co has 460 restaurants.