A Safety Footwear Program Gains Traction

When we talk about creating a culture of safety, our ultimate goal is for safe behaviors to become woven into, even inseparable from, daily operations. That level of safety consciousness is key to preventing injuries and resolving potentially hazardous conditions, so we can send our people back home safely, every day.

Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) are among the most common causes of injury in the hospitality industry — especially in commercial kitchens, where oil, grease, and other substances inevitably end up on the floor. To that end, we have long required people wear slip-resistant shoes when setting foot in one of our kitchens.

But some time ago, we realized it wasn’t quite enough to require employees to wear slip-resistant shoes or to provide a means for purchasing them. That’s why we partnered with Shoes For Crews (SFC) to help us put slip-resistant shoes on all our frontline associates in the United States.

One of the best tools for avoiding STFs goes on your feet: A solid pair of slip-resistant shoes.

Mandatory corporate footwear programs are nothing new, and their efficacy is well proven. But our approach is distinctly different. “The program puts people first, above all. We were willing to put our money behind the rhetoric and make a commitment that’s both visible and tangible,” shares Todd Gardner, Vice President, Safety & Risk Solutions.

Our Safety Footwear Program is a case study in building a safety culture — and it has yielded stunning results.

Challenges To Climb

For decades, we have sourced slip-resistant footwear from SFC as part of our associates’ uniforms. But several organizational and logistical challenges stood in the way of making this effort as effective as it could be. Each line of business sourced their footwear directly with SFC, which made for uneven results across the company. Our staffing is also complex, with union and non-union employees, as well as associates hired by our clients. Then there were concerns around social equity: Some employees struggled to afford the safety footwear, and so were wearing shoes well past their prime.

Our mandatory footwear policy also required location managers to track down frontline associates, one by one, and ensure they were wearing proper shoes. If the shoes came from a retail store, it was hard to tell whether they met our slip-resistant safety standards.

With so much at stake, we knew it was time to rethink our approach to preventing STFs in the workplace. “If we could ensure the footwear was appropriate, make sure everyone is wearing the right shoe for their role, and increase adoption — those three things would lead to better outcomes for our people and for the company,” shares Mike Doughty, Vice President, Corporate Procurement.

Reinventing Our Approach

To incorporate footwear safety standards into our company culture, we collaborated with SFC on a comprehensive, centralized Safety Footwear Program. In FY2019 all Aramark frontline associates in the U.S. became eligible for slip-resistant shoes at hiring. We subsidize one new pair of shoes per year, and any cost above the subsidy is paid through payroll deduction. Employees can shop an online catalog of over 200 styles (eight of which are no cost) from well-known brands such as New Balance, Cole Haan, and Dockers. The shoes ship free to the associate’s home or workplace, and they can exchange them at no cost within 60 days.

To support the new Safety Footwear Program, SFC developed new systems and technology to facilitate the payroll deductions, tracking, and real-time reporting. SFC also worked closely with us to promote the program to associates, managers, and administrators for maximum impact. “Shoes For Crews was always the best in slip-resistance, but they have also become a true partner to us on this journey. They are always open to feedback and improvements,” notes Patrick Davey, Vice President, Environmental, Health & Safety.

"No other company of this magnitude had ever come to us before and said, ‘We need to protect employees."

- Aldo Fratta, Regional Director for Hospitality Sales, Shoes For Crews

The Safety Footwear Program’s positioning feels much more like a company benefit than a mandatory safety policy — because it is. From the ordering process to the packaging to the feedback loop, every aspect demonstrates employee wellbeing is number-one.

“No other company of this magnitude had ever come to us before and said, ‘We need to protect employees,’” attests Aldo Fratta, Regional Director for Hospitality Sales, Shoes For Crews. “From the beginning, we calculated and implemented the Aramark program as an employee benefit.”

Stepping Into Safety

It takes years to see full results from safety initiatives; this is a given in almost any industry. But nearly two years (and more than 60,000 pairs of shoes) into the Safety Footwear Program, we’re already seeing meaningful business benefits.

STF-related injuries have declined an astounding 42% compared to historical rates. Even more impressive is that overall injury rates continue to decline as well — a ripple effect fueled, we believe, by increased focus and attention to safety sparked by the program.

What’s more, our employees are eager to participate. In FY2020, 80% of eligible U.S. employees participated in the program. A good number are upgrading to the more expensive styles, a testament to the shoes’ popularity.

According to employee feedback surveys, associates are happier and more confident with the new footwear, and the program has bolstered their self-esteem and pride in their work. Says frontline associate Tasaya Miller: “Putting these shoes on, I feel the difference instantly. I feel safer wearing them.” 

Meanwhile, managers enjoy the streamlined internal operations and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their teams are safe on their feet. The impact on company culture and morale has been striking. “Wearing proper shoes, day in and day out, has definitely become hardwired and part of our everyday safety culture,” says Fernando Figueroa, Director of Safety and Risk, Higher Education.

Engaged in Safety

Caring is the new currency in the hospitality industry, and nothing demonstrates care quite like keeping someone safe on the job. In partnering with Shoes For Crews, we devised a profoundly effective way to protect our frontline associates against STFs — and infuse our core safety principles into daily operations. By extension, our clients and customers benefit from the best-in-class service that can only come from a healthy, confident workforce.

“We value our partnership with SFC. It is not about selling or buying shoes but more importantly, ensuring that our associates have every opportunity to put their best foot forward at work as well as go home safe,” says Allan Fernandes, Vice President, Global Safety & Risk Control. “I feel proud to work for a company that cares about its people.”

We hope the success of our Safety Footwear Program sparks a critical conversation about workplace safety in the hospitality industry. Download the case study including full results, lessons learned, and next steps here: Shoes for Crews Case Study.