Greyston Bakery is a social enterprise that creates an impact by hiring those seeking employment. Its unique open hiring policy means anyone interested can add their name to a list and be called when positions open up.
Profits from Greyston Software support the work of the Greyston Foundation, an integrated network of for-profit and non-profit entities providing housing, child care, health care, daycare, computer learning, HIV health services, and other community programs.
How Greyston Bakery Creates Social Impact
In 1982, Greyston Bakery opened in Yonkers’ downtown district, facing high unemployment. Founder Bernie Glassman brought a Zen Buddhist philosophy to the business; he saw it as an opportunity to live out Buddha’s eightfold path of right livelihood in the community.
Today, the company’s human resources policies and community development initiatives remain guided by that philosophy. They reflect their core belief that everyone is on a journey, and supporting each person along the way is essential.
Greyston stands out among traditional employers by considering its employees’ life circumstances. They may have a drug or prison history, come from an underprivileged background, or be single parents without other childcare options available to them.
Greyston Bakery recognizes that these individuals can burden an organization yet provide them with the resources to succeed. The company provides employment, vocational training, continued education opportunities, environmental and cultural awareness education programs, and a learning center for children of the bakers.
For four decades, this company has provided employment opportunities to people from all backgrounds. It has enabled thousands to secure jobs and flourish in their communities, serving as an inspiring model for other businesses.
Brady attributes Greyston’s success to its dedication to its mission and values. It has formed partnerships with other values-driven corporations, such as Ben & Jerry’s and Whole Foods Market, who share Greyston’s hiring model and carry its products in their stores and online.
The bakery’s success is also driven by its social impact. Profits from sales go towards funding projects at The Greyston Foundation, such as housing, child care, and health services for low-income families in the local area.
Furthermore, the bakery is a B corporation, an accreditation that recognizes businesses that demonstrate social responsibility and support their community. This status gives the company credibility with consumers and other stakeholders, enabling it to expand rapidly.
Greyston Bakery employs 130+ staff members as part of its mission statement. Through partnerships with Ben & Jerry’s, Delta Airlines, and an online sales direct-to-consumer business model, the bakery sells around 35,000 pounds of brownies daily at its Yonkers location. The executive team hopes to expand this capacity and attract institutional customers like Whole Foods.
Open Hiring
Greyston Bakery is a social enterprise that employs individuals with barriers to employment without question. Their open hiring policy is inspired by the philosophy of a Zen Buddhist monk who founded the bakery in 1982 without asking any questions.
Greyston, a small business in Yonkers, NY, provides the skills and resources to lift people out of poverty while remaining profitable. Their mission is to foster economic opportunity and strengthen the community of southwest Yonkers.
To this end, the company employs people who need jobs and provides them with employment services and access to comprehensive wraparound support. These include housing, transportation, childcare, health care, job-skills training, and an on-site employment pathmaker who assists employees in finding ways out of poverty.
Through this model, the bakery staff members feel a strong responsibility to work together closely and collaboratively to guarantee everyone hired thrives. Everyone at the bakery believes they are part of an extended family; their job goes beyond baking brownies - it’s about creating opportunities for all.
Greyston’s employee-centered strategy emphasizes open hiring as an integral component. From health and safety concerns to educational opportunities and professional growth opportunities, the organization strives to eliminate all barriers to employment. According to Joseph Kenner - President and CEO - their “big mind shift” away from traditional hiring processes towards an inclusive Open Hiring(r) model has been instrumental in their success.
Greyston has seen remarkable improvements in productivity, low turnover rates, and employee engagement. Furthermore, they’ve opened a Center for Open Hiring to provide training and advice to other businesses looking to adopt this innovative staffing model.
Greyston Bakery has achieved great success as a social business, boasting 130+ employees, and their partnership with Ben & Jerry’s that has seen millions of pounds of chocolate fudge brownies sold to customers worldwide. This success indicates that purpose-driven leaders can immensely impact their community through their businesses.
Community Programs
The Greyston Bakery in Southwest Yonkers, NY provides employment opportunities for people who may struggle due to factors like homelessness, substance abuse problems, lack of education, or criminal histories. Their unique hiring policy—known as “open hiring”—means that the first person who applies is hired regardless of background.
The Greyston Foundation, which operates the bakery, strives to improve lives through personal transformation, entrepreneurship, and Zen Buddhist philosophy. They also run a supportive housing facility and provide workforce development and training programs for individuals facing barriers to employment.
Through Greyston Foundation, employees and apprentices can access various social service support services like wraparound case management and childcare. Furthermore, employees are invited to participate in their urban community gardens, which manage ten patches of green space while producing 14 tons of fresh produce annually.
At the core of Greyston Foundation’s work is PathMaking, a program that assists employees in developing a holistic understanding of themselves and their communities through education and leadership. Participants are guided toward visualizing paths to self-sufficiency - which requires overcoming obstacles, honing skills for professional success, and improving health.
One of the first employees to join the bakery was Gary Nash, who had been homeless for years and struggling with substance abuse issues. Finding employment had proven difficult for him; however, after being hired at the bakery, he could rise above these challenges and create a more secure life.
Nash has achieved great success through personal growth - he owns his own business, is married, and has children of his own. His dedication to personal development has allowed him to progress within Greyston Bakery and its parent organization, the Greyston Foundation.
In 2012, Greyston Bakery was recognized by New York State government as a Benefit Corporation - an entity required to create social value in addition to financial profit. This designation has given them increased visibility, and the executive team is actively looking for ways to expand their impact beyond their local market. Furthermore, they’re collaborating with Unilever to position themselves as global leaders in sustainable business practices and social entrepreneurship.
Volunteer Opportunities
In 2018, Joe Kenner took on a new role as Vice President of Programs for Greyston Bakery and its foundation. This opportunity combined his expertise in financial management, social services, and community service with the organization’s mission to foster inclusive employment opportunities. With this position, he felt like he had finally found his calling!
Established in 1982 by Zen Buddhist teacher Bernard “Bernie” Glassman, this company employs workers from Yonkers, New York, who have experienced disadvantages in their past lives. Its Open Hiring policy guarantees a job to anyone willing to work and is non-judgmental. By answering two basic questions correctly, anyone can be placed on a first come-first served to hire list and become part of its six to ten-month paid apprenticeship program.
The program strives to give individuals a pathway toward meaningful careers while equipping them with the tools needed for success in their next steps. Furthermore, it provides an encouraging atmosphere where individuals can grow and develop while receiving guidance and support in reaching their full potential.
In addition to hiring individuals with barriers to employment, such as criminal records or language limitations, the bakery works with the community to support people through job training and mentoring programs. These include a workforce development initiative that allows workers to gain job skills and transition into permanent positions after completing their 6- to a 10-month apprenticeship.
For instance, the bakery collaborates with a local agency to assist those suffering from addiction in finding employment. Furthermore, it supports a community garden and a child care center in Yonkers.
Greyston offers a range of volunteer opportunities to support its community programs. These can include holiday toy drives, backpack/school supply drives, and fundraiser walks/runs.
Another way to contribute to the company’s social impact is through its Team Greyston initiative. This creative giving-back initiative invites family and friends to join in volunteering and fundraising activities for various organization projects.
In June, B-Corp employees from around the country joined forces with Greyston Bakery to pack meals for hungry neighbors at the Food Bank for Westchester County in Yonkers. The event was a huge success and provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the good works done by Greyston Bakery and its friends within the community.
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