Close to 7,500 employees of Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell gathered in the Garden Café on Thursday, March 2, to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. The event, along with similar festivities held at off-campus sites including 575 Lexington Ave. and 100 Broadway, was organized to honor the hard work of employees over the past 12 months and included a celebratory meal and an opportunity to visit with co-workers.
"This is an occasion to celebrate all of our employees and let them know how much we value and appreciate their hard work and dedication," said Dr. Antonio Gotto Jr., dean of Weill Cornell Medical College.
With a theme of "New York, New York," the Café was decked out with iconic New York City images, from a living Statue of Liberty and a façade of Radio City Music Hall, to the E-Z Pass signs many commuters see each morning on their way to work.
To show their appreciation, managers and members of senior leadership stepped behind the service line and offered employees a "Taste of Little Italy," with an Italian-themed menu that featured chicken marsala, cheese calzones, vegetables, fruit and Italian ices for dessert. There was one item outside of the Italian theme, however.
"This wouldn't be New York without street vendors, so we had hot-dog carts as well!" said Wendy Schwan, senior recognition activities specialist at the Center for Organizational & Leadership Effectiveness at Weill Cornell.
Employees also enjoyed the opportunity to dine with staff from other departments that they may not traditionally get to see during their hectic workday.
With more than 1,200 pounds of chicken and 400 cases of soda and water available, employees came out en masse to enjoy the festivities. By 1:30 p.m., a line of Weill Cornell employees several city blocks long coursed its way out of the Garden Café and through the basement corridors of the Hospital, causing one New York City police officer who was on hand to proclaim, "Now this is what I call a line-up!"
Garden Café
Weill Cornell staff gather around a NYC icon as they enter the Garden Café for Employee Appreciation Day.
A group of employees take a moment for a photo before grabbing some food and drink.
It's showtime! Employees stop in front of a façade of the Apollo Theater before digging into their lunches.
A WMC staff member mimics a "living" statue brought into the Garden Café to complete the "New York, New York" theme.
Two DJs and a guitarist added a musical element to the celebration.
Two employees break out their dancing shoes on a makeshift dance floor in between meeting with colleagues and enjoying lunch.
Administrators and managers stepped behind the line to show their appreciation and serve up a "Taste of Little Italy" to Weill Cornell employees.
A few friends enjoying a moment together during a crowded Employee Appreciation Day.
575 Lexington Ave.
From left: Erik Ross (PO), Markus Bronnimann (OAC), Richard Hu (OAC), and Glenn Hirata (OAC) share a laugh after lunch.
From left: Vera Simonovichene, Galina Kamenetsky, Kin-Ling Cheng, and Mariana Vaismanov—all staff members of the Physician Organization—line up for some savory food and drink.
100 Broadway
Finance department staff members Ifeoma Ihim, Randy Phillips, and Julie Wong gathering over some lunch at 100 Broadway.
Sarah Wieckowicz and Natasha Gadwah, both of the Department of Finance, are all smiles as they get ready to dig in.
Photos at Garden Cafe and 575 Lexington Ave. by Marie Wallace.
Photos at 100 Broadway by Weill Cornell Art & Photo.