How Chick-fil-A Makes Space for Refugees in Hospitality

​In June of this year, Chick-fil-A Kuebler Gateway in Salem first opened its doors. Like every new Chick-fil-A location, they celebrated this accomplishment with their First 100 Program. This program supports the surrounding community by honoring 100 heroes in the Salem area with free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year. Among their many deserving recipients, they recognized Salem for Refugees for their work providing localized services and support to refugees. Aside from their community members being First 100 recipients, they also partner with Chick-fil-A Kuebler Gateway for employment opportunities.

Salem for Refugees aims to strengthen ties to the hospitality industry to get more of their community members into the workforce. Because many of their members do not speak English or Spanish, they have identified back-of-house roles as a good fit for their demographic. However, they are still struggling to fill the demands of their growing labor pool. They need restaurant and hotel partners willing to take on refugee employees. One of the most significant barriers to doing so is that their members are non-English speakers.

Lee Richardson and his team at Chick-fil-A Kuebler Gateway are an excellent example of a successful relationship between Salem for Refugees and a hospitality business despite perceived barriers. Lee has hired a total of 5 of their community members. When he has applicable job openings, he communicates this to Salem for Refugees, and they supply possible applicants from their pool. Similar to any employee group, there have been hires, let-goes, and transitions. However, Lee stressed that everything he experienced hiring from this applicant pool proves no different than any other. Even with language barriers, he has stated that transition time into a new role takes about a month, about how long it would take anyone to feel comfortable with their job. With the accessibility of smartphone translation services, language gaps are often closed easily. For any more complicated translation needs surrounding employment, Salem for Refugees is just a call away from providing these services. They also assist with getting applicants any required certification for a particular role or employer.

The team at Chick-fil-A Kuebler Gateway has found great value in opening its doors to refugee employees. Lee described them as some of the most dedicated, hardworking, and loyal people to work with. It is apparent to anyone who stops by their location that Lee and his management team are a positive force in their employees’ lives. Even being the high-level of an employer that they are, they don’t have a secret strategy to work with refugees, there is no need for one. What Chick-fil-A is achieving is accessible, and all it takes is a little translation here and there.

Want to learn more about Salem for Refugees and how your business can get involved? Contact Ella Sturdevant, Oregon Hospitality Foundation’s Workforce Development Coordinator, or Mohsin Jamal with Salem for Refugees.

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Restaurant and lodging operators can get involved in an array of workforce development initiatives supported by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation. Consider volunteering for guest speaking opportunities, job shadows, participate in job/career fairs or offer experiential field trips at your place of business. Contact Ella Sturdevant for more information.