CEO writes hundreds of thank you notes to staff and still eats in the break room—which ‘always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away’

In an era of AI avatars and digital overload, something as simple as a handwritten note can feel like a relic of the past. In fact, many Gen Zers can’t even read cursive. But for First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso, old-fashioned notes of appreciation are a ritual. The leader of the over $1 billion-a-year in revenue breakfast and lunch chain takes time each month to handwrite congratulations to cooks and dishwashers celebrating major milestones, like 10, 20, or even 30 years with the company. With more than 15,000 employees, Tomasso has penned over 500 notes—and believes the small gesture has an outsized impact. “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.” First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso writes handwritten notes each month to his employees reaching major milestones (Courtesy of First Watch). Tomasso traces his approach to a moment early in his career. At 26, he received a handwritten thank-you note from his CEO at Hard Rock Café—a letter he’s kept to this day. When Tomasso became a CEO himself in 2018, he decided to carry that same people-first philosophy forward. “I tried to minimize the [CEO] title as best I can when I’m interacting with people,” Tomasso said. “I eat lunch in the break room with everybody, which always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away—that I just sit down next to them and bring my lunch and have lunch with them. I think it’s a shame that there’s that feeling.” It’s a simple act that reflects a broader leadership lesson: connection matters. “Our job is to create an environment where our employees are happy and feel appreciated and they take care of the rest,” Tomasso added on LinkedIn. “And they do it better than anyone.” The power of a thank-you While technology has made the world faster an