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Longest-serving White Castle team member retires
December 14, 2009
White Castle is known for its employee-retention successes. But Elaine Miseta's longevity beats all company records. She is retiring after 67 years of continuous service with the company, most of them as administrative assistant to the family-owned chain's presidents.
White Castle's board of directors honored Miseta at its quarterly meeting, announcing that its 11,000 team members will celebrate an annual "Elaine Miseta Day" on June 8 — the date of Miseta's hiring in 1942. The example of her longevity will continue to inspire others as the company on June 8, 2010, will begin annual recognition of team members who have achieved 15 years of unbroken service with the company, said Jamie Richardson, White Castle vice president for government and shareholder relations.
The company has a tradition of honoring its longstanding employees. Founder Billy Ingram initiated the 25 Year Club in 1946 when he celebrated his 25th year with the company. He went on to lead White Castle for 45 years. Over the past 63 years, 1,433 White Castle team members have earned this distinctive honor — 626 remain on the active payroll, 471 are retired or resigned and 336 are deceased.
Miseta is one of 28 active team members in the 25 Year Club with more than 40 years of service.
"Elaine is a shining example of what White Castle is all about," said White Castle president E.W. "Bill" Ingram III. "We're all family here, and Elaine is a very special part of the family feeling we think makes this a special place to work."
Miseta, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, began working for the company on June 8, 1942, just a day after the U.S. victory in the Battle of Midway. The big issues affecting the company during World War II were the loss of employees to enlistment in the military and government-imposed meat rationing.
At the time, the company was in its 21st year. Each little square burger cost 5 cents. There were no holes in the hamburger patties, no cheeseburgers or shakes appeared on the menu, and Miseta's wage was a mere $17 per week.
Coincidentally, Miseta was born in 1921, the year White Castle was founded. She has been employed at White Castle longer than most other fast food franchises — including McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King — have existed.
Miseta's original plan was to work in the steno pool for one or two years to earn extra cash. Instead, she moved on to clerk in the purchasing department before becoming the trusted right hand of three generations of company presidents, including founder Billy Ingram, his son Edgar Ingram and his grandson Bill Ingram.
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