What promises are you delivering to your team? Have you made any? Have you ever shared what they can expect when they come to work for you? These were the same questions I discovered and wrestled with within the first three years of running our restaurant.

Our Hospitality team read “The New Gold Standard ” by Joseph A. Michelli, which explores the Ritz-Carlton’s legendary approach to service and culture. It’s not just about luxury—it’s about intentionality. The Ritz doesn’t just serve guests; it serves its people through clarity, consistency, and deeply held values.

One of the key takeaways is that culture is built through promises kept. Ritz-Carlton doesn’t leave its employee experience to chance. They crafted an employer promise—a clear statement of what every team member can expect when they join the organization.

That challenged us to ask:

If we want to paint a brighter future for our team, what exactly are we promising to deliver?

We realized that to paint a brighter future, we had to get busy crafting a promise—a vision for what we want to, can and will deliver when someone joins our team. Here’s what that looks like at a high level:

http://growuniversitychickfila.com

“GROW U.” — A Brighter Future Starts Here

(U. is short for “University,” a play on words for our University Ave. location.)

THE JOURNEY OF 1,000 MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP.

At Chick-fil-A University Ave (IA), we’ll ensure that the first step is the right one.

WE EQUIP FOR NOW & YOUR FUTURE

Our “Level Up” training system is a roadmap that clearly outlines what you need to do to take ownership of your growth and future. Be given a clearly defined path for growth and success.

WE INVEST IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT

Gain one-on-one development with leaders, participate in group settings, and receive ongoing training.

You’ll gain life skills transferable to any field. Chick-fil-A team members are among the most sought-after employees across various professions.

We help you reach your personal goals through group settings, ongoing training, and one-on-one time with leaders to plan for your future.

WE LISTEN TO YOU

We value your feedback. We even pay you for great ideas through our Ideas Bonus! If we aren’t meeting your expectations, we want to know so we can do something about it.

Take our detailed Team Member Engagement Survey so we can identify areas for improvement.

WE REWARD YOUR HARD WORK

We believe in taking care of our team. You’ll receive some of the most sought-after benefits in any profession. As you progress in your development, we reward you quickly and often.

Reviews are held at 30 days, 90 days, six months, and yearly. You’ll also receive rewards daily with our “Cluck Buck” system and have the opportunity to “Level Up” even sooner than the review periods. The opportunity is in your hands!

WE LAUNCH YOUR CAREER PATH

If you have the drive and determination, we will help propel you toward a remarkable future.

What deliverables are you providing to your team for a brighter future?

They’re not just looking for a job—they’re looking for someone who can help them discover what’s possible and who can actually deliver on it.

What’s your “Employer promise?”

What would a brighter future look like at your organization?]

Have you made it clear—and are you following through on it?

Next Up: We’ll dive deeper into each of the five “Grow U.” deliverables and share why we chose them as the foundation of our brighter future promise.