Insights that empower

Case Studies

Where Hospitality Meets Heart: Flexibility as a Family-First Strategy at The Ashton Depot

Organizational Snapshot

The Ashton Depot is a privately owned historic event venue in Fort Worth, Texas, offering full-service hospitality experiences—from catering and bar service to staffing and setup. We are not a franchise, and we’re not open 24/7—we’re a people-first workplace built around quality, not quantity. With nearly 100 employees, including managers, bartenders, servers, cooks, and setup crews, we operate as one big extended family.

Policy

Flexibility

Region

Fort Worth, TX

Industry

Food, Hospitality, Retail

Size

Small

Nearly 100 Employees

Male/Female

52% / 48%

Founded

2006

"Family is woven into the fabric of our culture."

Ashlee Johnson

Co-Owner & CEO, The Ashton Depot

Family Friendly Policy Overview

In the hospitality world, work often means late nights and weekend commitments. That’s why The Ashton Depot has built a flexible, family-friendly structure that puts people first—without compromising our signature high-end service.

Staff-Led Scheduling: No assigned shifts—their team chooses when they want to work through the WhenIWork app. Whether it’s a child’s birthday, prom night, or an LSAT exam, staff can fit work around life—not the other way around. Once a shift is claimed, start and end times are flexible too, making it easier for working parents to manage childcare or late-night pickups.
No Temps. Just Trust. The Ashton Deport only hires friends and family—people they know and trust to deliver outstanding service. Their team includes moms, high school and college students, and even parents working alongside their kids. Their staff bench is strong, loyal, and always ready, thanks to a model built on mutual respect and shared values.
Technology that Works for People: The Ashton Depot has invested in smart tech like Pathways—an app that lets staff make business calls from their cell phones without using their personal numbers. Plus, they provide a $60 monthly stipend toward AT&T bills to support texting and calling. It’s a small investment that’s made a big difference in customer connection and staff satisfaction.
Flexible, Empowered Management: Their eight salaried managers are all parents. They enjoy fully paid 12-week maternity leave (or more if needed), remote work as needed, and up to 6 weeks of vacation. Summer office days sometimes include toys and iPads—because being family-friendly means welcoming real life into the workplace.

Policy Implementation Overview

Talent That Stays: Many Ashton Deport employees are parents, students, or professionals with other commitments—and they stay at The Ashton Depot because of the flexibility. The Ashton Depot has such loyalty in their employees, it results in high quality service, meaning they don’t spend money on marketing. They invest in people.
Training That Builds Careers: Their signature “Training on 10” series helps to develop skills that stick. Training on 10 is just that – 10 minutes of training on how to serve coffee, how to pour wine, how to properly set a table, the difference between sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. This gives them the skills & knowledge for life, AND staff often move up in just a few months.
Culture That Connects: With two staff events a year—including one for the whole family—we intentionally foster a culture of connection, gratitude, and fun.

The Impact

In a high-pressure industry, The Ashton Depot proves that you don’t have to choose between excellence and empathy. By letting staff set their schedules, honoring family commitments, and supporting every stage of life, they have created a workplace where employees are motivated, empowered, and proud. And when your team feels valued, your clients feel it too.