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This post on the CentricsIT workplace Thanksgiving tradition was contributed by Mandy Glidewell, Director of Marketing
It’s a workplace Thanksgiving tradition that harkens back to a different time—before you could order a Thanksgiving meal with your phone, or even your watch; when labor unions were more prevalent and American factories and manufacturing plants were cornerstones of the economy; and before benefits were baked into standard compensation plans—a time when an employer-gifted Thanksgiving turkey was commonplace.
While 23 percent of employers plan to host a Thanksgiving meal or distribute gifts this year, only 3 percent of employers plan to hand out turkeys to their employees, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Bureau of National Affairs. Among non-manufacturing businesses, that figure drops to 2 percent.
CentricsIT is among that 2 percent.
2019 marks the twelfth consecutive year in which CentricsIT executive leadership will give each employee a Thanksgiving turkey. Any other gift or gesture of appreciation to commemorate the holiday has never even been considered.
“We value the personal touch and sentiment that comes along with giving someone a turkey,” explained CentricsIT President and CEO Derek Odegard. “Thanksgiving is a time to express appreciation, and we take this opportunity to thank the many people who make countless contributions across our organization.”
Many longtime employees look forward to the annual turkey handout and make their Thanksgiving dinner plans in anticipation of the gesture. Seven-year veteran Clarita Forcucci, CentricsIT Global Account Executive, “I look forward to it every year. I take it home to my family and start marinating it two to three days before Thanksgiving. It’s a big family affair; my mother-in-law comes to cook it, and we feed over a dozen family members each year.”
New employees are often surprised when they learn about the tradition. “I was a bit surprised by it because no other company that I’ve worked for has ever offered a whole turkey to me and my family” said Yashica Briggs, a CentricsIT Logistics Coordinator who started in July. “It’s really a sweet thing that our company gives away turkeys for Thanksgiving. I feel like it’s one of the many ways Centrics says thank you.” Briggs plans to roast her turkey and serve it along with other homemade dishes as she celebrates locally with her family.
Employees are encouraged to share recipes and the unique ways they prepare their turkeys. While Forcucci and Briggs plan to roast their turkeys, Ben Pines, a CentricsIT Senior Account Executive celebrating his tenth year with CentricsIT in 2019, says he plans to smoke his turkey before deep frying it. CentricsIT often posts photos of the cooked turkeys on social media to feature its employees’ unique takes on the workplace Thanksgiving tradition.
CentricsIT is known among Atlanta’s top workplaces and has a reputation locally for having a vibrant culture. In a recent interview with Univeristy of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, Odegard described the office environment at CentricsIT:
“Culture helps forge the identity of the company itself, not only inside the walls, but out. There is no doubt that if your employees are happy and in a good place that will shine through to your customers as well.”
By optimizing IT budgets and consolidating data center vendors, CentricsIT helps clients around the world improve efficiency and reduce wasteful IT spending. The company is headquartered in Metro-Atlanta, Georgia and operates globally out of offices in: Toronto, London, Prague, and Dubai.
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Mandy Glidewell is the Director of Marketing at CentricsIT, based out of our Atlanta headquarters. She manages demand generation and digital strategy, media relations, and global business communications. She loves to tell the world about the awesome team at CentricsIT and how we deliver value for our clients every day. |
Follow CentricsIT on Facebook to learn more about our outstanding workplace culture. For career inquiries, visit: /jobs/
