Binghamton University Dining Services (BUDS) would be nothing without our incredibly dedicated and hardworking employees; so, when it came to National Employee Appreciation Day (NEAD) on March 4, we wanted to make sure our employees were celebrated and knew how much we appreciate all that they do. 

 

NEAD is celebrated on the first Friday of March each year and is meant to recognize and honor employees in all industries around the country. To mark the special occasion, we created and hung posters and banners publicizing the day and thanking our dining team; every employee was also given a NEAD-branded “We Can’t Do It Without U” t-shirt to wear that day.

 

Retail Manager, Chris Harasta, spoke of the importance of the day saying, “It’s a reminder to take a step back once in a while and thank the people that really matter.”

 

To John Enright, General Manager of Resident Dining, it’s “a day to celebrate and recognize all that our team does to take care of our students during the year, as well as contributing to the overall success of our organization.”

 

Each dining location celebrated the day at their daily huddle, a meeting held before each meal period. Managers had written individualized cards to their employees and even held drawings for Dining Gift Cards at each huddle that day.

 

When asked about ways that he shows his appreciation to his employees not only on this day, but every day, Harasta recalled, “To me, it’s about listening and understanding, breaking away from the numbers and reports to connect with the people I work with. Doing what I can, when I can, to make someone’s day brighter.”

 

Enright added, “When I know it’s been a tough day or week, I let them know how appreciative I am that they’ve helped us make it through. Sometimes this is done during a huddle, and sometimes it’s a one-on-one conversation.”

 

Even from afar, Sodexo Executives Brett Ladd, CEO, Sodexo Campus and Government, Jim Fjelstul, COO, Campus West, Cal Thetford, COO, Campus East, also made sure to thank employees with a prerecorded video that was shown at each of our huddles, extending their gratitude for their entire extraordinary Sodexo family. 

 

This year’s National Employee Appreciation Day was a fun-filled tribute to all of the incredible people that make BUDS what it is.

 

In the words of Tom LaSarso, General Manager of Retail Operations, “In the simplest terms, a ‘thank you’ and acknowledgment of [our employees’] efforts during the course of the day goes a long way.”

 

And so, to our exceptional employees, we say “Thank U!”