Why Chick-fil-A, Inc. Provides Wellness Benefits Beyond An Exercise Gym

For many years, the dominant vision of wellness at work focused on increased physical activity and improved nutritional options for employees.?

At Chick-fil-A, Inc., we’re taking a different approach.?

We’re asking staffers what happiness, balance and fulfillment mean to them — and then we’re giving them the support and tools to help them get there.?

“We've broadened our perspective to include stress management, sleep, work-life balance, family and community relationships, and spiritual health,” says Emma Barnett, Chick-fil-A’s senior lead advisor for wellness. “You have to take care of all of those areas of life to really be able to thrive.”?

Under our Chick-fil-A Abound program, corporate staffers and their spouses can sign up for an ongoing coaching relationship with a health advisor who helps them define their own personal vision for health and well-being.?

In monthly remote meetings, this advisor serves as both an accountability partner and guide, helping participants to establish priorities, set goals and think strategically about challenges.

Participants’ goals are diverse — ranging from spending more time with family and doing more community service to getting to bed earlier and feeling more connected with friends. Advisors help connect participants with specialists who can help them achieve their goals, such as personal trainers, nutritionists and mental health counselors.?

In addition, participants can make use of the other resources already available to Chick-fil-A corporate staffers. The on-site wellness center at our Atlanta corporate campus offers group exercise classes, both live and on-demand, small group training, and sports a racquetball court, walking trails, stationary bicycles for spin classes and a strength training studio.??

Unlike many companies, Chick-fil-A makes these programs available not only to employees, but also to their spouses and in some cases to older children. It’s an approach in keeping with the company’s signature Culture of Care that usually has staffers done with the workday in time for dinner.?

“We believe really heavily in family involvement,” Barnett says. “Not only does it fit with our mission and our values, we also understand that in order to make the greatest impact on a staff member, you have to impact the ecosystem that they're a part of.”??

From college counseling for staffers’ children to resources for staffers caring for aging family members, investing in innovative kinds of care for staff is not only values-based, Barnett says. It’s also good business.?

“We don’t just care for our staff professionally, we also care for them as people,” she says. “That allows them to show up more present, focused, innovative and creative in their work.”?

Are you interested in learning more about a career at Chick-fil-A Corporate? Visit us at www.chick-fil-a.com/careers?