Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Culinary Services Group is more than just a food service company. We’re a community of more than 500 employees nationwide. Our employee community is diverse and unique, and we believe in creating a workplace that fosters inclusion.
This summer, protests and corporate pledges for change made us think about what more we could do to create a culture that was committed to diversity and inclusion for all team members. We believed these changes should become part of our guiding principles, a living document that describes how we as individuals and as a company should behave to be successful.
Our leadership understood that true change would only happen if every role within Culinary Services Group had a voice. And that voice would need to represent the many different races, religions, and sexual orientations within our company. With this understanding, we created the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce, a group of employees who would shape how our company creates an inclusive culture.
The Taskforce met on a weekly basis. One of their first goals was creating a twenty-sixth guiding principle that would represent our commitment to diversity. Recently, the Taskforce presented the new guiding principle to Culinary Services Group’s leadership and fellow team members in a powerful and moving presentation.
Guiding Principle 26.
Celebrate Diversity and Embrace Social Responsibility
Commit to fostering a diverse environment by celebrating and embracing our many voices and unique perspectives. Strive to exhibit empathy to all, regardless of diverse backgrounds and individualities. Nurture equal opportunities for advancements within the company through mentorship, sustainable initiatives, and communication. Through inclusion, we are the power and the influence to bring positive changes to the communities in which we work and live.
The launch of this new Guiding Principle represents a shift in the way we operate as a company. Recently our Director of Marketing asked members to reflect on their experiences participating in the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce so far.
The group represented cooks, food service directors, dietitians, and others. Some were asked to join by a manager, but others came forward and asked to participate. Alyce, a dietitian in New Jersey said, “I asked to participate in the task force because I wanted to be involved in the process as a person of color. I wanted to provide input from that perspective and to be involved in something as progressive as a taskforce like this.” Amanda, a food service director in Pennsylvania commented, “With my background and the way 2020 has gone, especially with division, racism, prejudice and hate, I wanted to be heard. Culture in the workplace is extremely important to me.”
When asked what the 26th Guiding Principle meant to the taskforce members the tone was deeply personal, positive and reflective. “It means that there is a change that the world needs to see being made right here at CSG and that makes me proud,” said Shebbra, a cook from North Carolina. Others commented, “I took this project on with a mission not only to make the traits on the surface more prominent to our team but to engage others to think about what’s below the surface too. I have always hoped that diversity will be celebrated and not just tolerated. To celebrate diversity means absolute and deliberate equality,” and “This statement means that as an organization, we’re taking steps to make sure all team members feel heard and represented. We’re playing a role in bettering the communities that we serve.”
“To celebrate diversity means absolute and deliberate equality.”
When the group spoke about the process that went into developing the 26th guiding principle, Shannon, a food service director in West Virginia shared her experience. “During a meeting, after we had finalized the guiding principle and were starting to develop ideas for a presentation, we decided to break the guiding principle up. One by one we started to claim which part we wanted to present. I chose the opening statement, ‘Commit to fostering a diverse environment by celebrating and embracing our many perspectives.’ I told them I wanted to present this part because personally, it was what I was struggling with the most. I began to tear up. I believe that was the moment the taskforce became one. It was the moment that our ability to be vulnerable and truly understand our mission was apparent. We began to share our personal struggles. We started to embrace each other. It was the moment when we stopped developing the guiding principle and started living it.”
The group now wants to see every Culinary Services Group team member living this guiding principle. They’ll begin working on policies and training programs that will support diversity and inclusion and create opportunities for advancement within the company.
When asked if participating in the Taskforce changed how they viewed working at Culinary Services Group, Alyce said, “I think I feel more involved in the organization overall and I’m honored to be a part of a team that I know is investing in making sure everyone feels represented and included.” “I believe CSG is moving in a direction that I am thrilled to be a part of,” said Shannon, “I’m impressed with the fact that CSG is using the knowledge and resources that we all have to strengthen the company. It’s something that I’m proud to be a part of.” “It’s great to be a part of a work family that truly values member’s input, opinions, and knowledge,” agreed Amanda. “I feel like my voice is more heard,” said Shebbra.
“I feel like my voice is more heard.”
Culinary Services Group is proud of the accomplishments of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce and all of its team members. We value being a company where everyone can have a voice and shape our company culture. The success of the Taskforce has encouraged our leadership to continue to use this inclusive model to develop ideas and strategies for our company moving forward. If you’d like to learn more about our company mission and vision, click here. Interested in working with a food service company whose values align with your own? Get started today!
