Noodles Leads with Inclusivity + Diversity
For more than 25 years, Noodles & Company has committed our efforts to nourishing and inspiring every team member, guest and community we serve through cultivating an environment where all feel welcomed and safe and can be their most authentic selves. Here are some of the ways we’ve dedicated ourselves to inclusion and diversity in our business:
In 2022, we added NRGs to our industry-leading inclusive team member benefits. Our PROUD and THRIVE resource groups are available for Noodles’ shift managers, assistant general managers, general managers and above. PROUD is focused on elevating LGBTQIA+ team members and allies and THRIVE is centered on elevating BIPOC team members.
In 2022, we added NRGs to our industry-leading inclusive team member benefits. Our PROUD and THRIVE resource groups are available for Noodles’ shift managers, assistant general managers, general managers and above. PROUD is focused on elevating LGBTQIA+ team members and allies and THRIVE is centered on elevating BIPOC team members.
Through our Self-ID program, team members can wear pronoun pins and are encouraged to also list their pronouns on their name badges so all team members, guests and the community can properly address them. Additionally, we offer uniform options with inclusive messaging such as, “All Noodles Welcome.”
Through our Self-ID program, team members can wear pronoun pins and are encouraged to also list their pronouns on their name badges so all team members, guests and the community can properly address them. Additionally, we offer uniform options with inclusive messaging such as, “All Noodles Welcome.”
We offer several industry-leading team member benefits that directly impact our LGBTQIA+ team members. Benefits include paid parental leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, as well as Gender-neutral bathrooms in our restaurants across the country.
We offer several industry-leading team member benefits that directly impact our LGBTQIA+ team members. Benefits include paid parental leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, as well as Gender-neutral bathrooms in our restaurants across the country.
Facts about Pride
June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Uprising marked the beginning of six days of protests and riots that became the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. On the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, thousands of people flooded the streets of Manhattan, NYC in the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March, regarded as the first-ever gay pride event.
Pride Month began initially as “Gay Pride Day”, observed annually on the last Sunday in June. In 1999, President Bill Clinton officially declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, setting aside the month as a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ culture, achievements and activism through a series of organized activities including marches, concerts and other programs.
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. This ruling means that states can no longer deny same-sex marriages and must recognize these unions.
According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 7.2% of adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQIA+.
Pride is celebrated in various cities throughout the year. For example, Atlanta, Orlando and Louisville celebrate Pride in October closer to National Coming Out Day on October 11.
In 1978, artist Gilbert Baker designed the first Pride flag with eight stripes of colors to reflect “the rainbow of humanity.” The flag first flew on June 25 that same year, during San Francisco’s Gay Pride Day. There are actually 17 different Pride flags with each one representing a different identity such as the Lesbian Pride flag, Transgender Pride flag and several others.
Testimonials
Sammie Flippen-Johnson (she/her)
I love that Noodles lives true to our values of We Care and We Love Life. Over the years Noodles has stepped up our game by introducing support with adoption for same-sex couples, the introduction of our self- identification campaign, and our partnership with Out & Equal each year to give back through our Pride Crispies. In my 12 years here with Noodles & Company, we have made great strides in ensuring we are a safe and inclusive organization. For me, Noodles has always created an environment that has allowed myself and countless others to bring their authentic selves into the building day in and day out leading into many public speaking opportunities and accomplishments. Without the confidence to live my authentic self I don't think any of that would have happened. As one of the co-leads for our Proud NRG, it means a great deal to me that I can impact both members of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies through leadership, engagement, and support.
Jeff Taylor (he/him)
I think it’s great that Noodles allows same-sex couples to adopt children and they offer money towards that for people to start a family and not feel it’s just for a heterosexual couple. I think that with the full diversified staff it also makes it feel more like a family environment and when my partner or anyone comes to my work they are automatically family like me.
The PROUD NRG has impacted me in so many ways. In addition to listening to everyone’s stories about inclusion and diversity at Noodles (and in life in general), they also highlighted me and my team for our efforts in initiating and creating the first Pride Crispies to help celebrate PRIDE month.
Danielle Zimmer (she/her)
I have worked for Noodles for 13 years and I have always been impressed with how inclusive Noodles has been. From the very beginning, I have felt empowered to encourage people to be themselves, which, over time, has only increased with all of the different programs and initiatives that Noodles has put into place.
Madi Grauer (she/they)
The importance of Pride Month being celebrated here at Noodles & Company cannot be understated, approximately 25% of our workforce across the organization identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ Community. How we support and celebrate our Noodlers internally as well as within the communities that we serve matters so much. At Noodles we provide many tangible examples of how we affect our team members feeling like they can bring their authentic selves to work every day of the year, not just in the month of June. I am so proud to work for a company that supports me, and the entirety of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Rory Miller (he/him)
I do all that I can to create an inclusive work environment, and one thing that I have started doing recently is simply starting off all of my phone interviews with candidates by introducing myself. I start off each conversation by sharing my name and my pronouns with the candidates to open the floor for them to feel empowered to do the same back to me. “Hi, my name is Rory and I use he/him pronouns.” I have also started to use the self ID feature we recently began to use in Workday when reaching out to anyone on the internal team to ensure I am addressing them by their preferred name and/or pronouns in email or over the phone, if they have provided it on their profile.
Mikey Knapp (he/they)
Noodles & Company took the initiative and replaced the male and female bathrooms with gender-neutral bathrooms. Walking into the Gurnee location for my interview I was a little anxious. The GM brought me over to one of the tables near the soda machine. When it came time for me to come out, he said, “No problem! We even have gender-neutral bathrooms so don’t worry.” After the interview was done, I went over to the bathrooms, got excited, and posted it on Facebook. I have never worked for a place that changed their bathrooms like that until now and I don't want to work anywhere else for now!
David Collins (he/him)
The Proud resource group is on the best things at Noodles. I was super excited when it first Launched. It is a place where people of the community and allies come together as family and not be judged. During Pride month I try to attend the local ones such as Indy and Columbus. I support my friends that's also in the community. I attend fundraisers etc. Just like to get out to enjoy life. lol Now with Noodles I believe we should get more active in different cities community just not the parade. Try and give back some more, during pride month.
David Haile (he/him)
Working at Noodles & Company has been life changing for me and made me feel welcomed from the very start. I used to begin working with a company not being open about who I am hiding the fact that I was gay for quite some time until I got comfortable with the people that I work with. Seeing the benefits we offered to celebrating everyone for who they are with no discrimination or judgement has changed the way that I personally manage my team and make them feel empowered so speak up and be proud of who they are.
Nick Wilkie (he/they)
Working somewhere that is intentionally inclusive like Noodles relates to how I am as a person. I always try to make sure everyone is included and involved in everything. It’s important because it could mean the world of difference for them and we wouldn’t even know it. I enjoy working here because no matter who you are, the teams work together to help you achieve goals both in the restaurant, at home or in life. I feel like the Proud Resource Group will definitely help those in need who are looking for a group like themselves so they can feel included no matter their situation.
