By Mikey Knab / Meza Family Restaurant Group

On National Boss Day each October 17, some employees show up to the office with an extra coffee, or flowers, or maybe a “#1 Boss” mug, hoping to build a little extra good will with management. Others simply avoid the marking on the calendar and hope nobody notices. It’s difficult to deny that National Boss Day can be a holiday that’s observed out of obligation.

As Director of Operations at Meza Family Restaurant Group, you may expect that I’m hoping for a little extra appreciation from my staff at Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant and Rocio’s. But that’s not how I’m celebrating. This year, I’m turning the holiday upside down and marking Monday, October 17, as the day to honor bosses in San Diego who truly live up to the “#1 Boss” name.

A good boss doesn’t just make schedules and cut paychecks. We have the opportunity to make the lives of our employees, our customers and our neighborhood better – and a good boss makes the most of this. This National Boss Day, I raise a glass of horchata to my fellow good bosses who know that part of doing good business is taking good care of our employees.

The Meza Family recognizes that no one working a full time job in San Diego should live in poverty – they should be able to afford a healthy, happy life. That’s why we are committed to paying a living wage. To ensure that our employees can spend time with their families and enrich the lives of their children, we provide a generous paid time off program.

We invest in our staff through professional development opportunities, team outings and inclusive decision-making. We also understand the important role that small businesses play in contributing to our community at large. We sponsor community groups, we volunteer together for causes our team cares about – and we pay our fair share of taxes.

These days, we often hear about businesses behaving badly.

But across San Diego, there are small businesses that join me in putting employees first and playing by the rules. This year, I joined Main Street Alliance, a national network of small business owners. We are all business leaders who know that strong investment in our employees is the smartest investment in our businesses.

This National Boss day, let’s toast the bosses in San Diego who stand for:

• Leveling the playing field against large corporations by paying our fair share of taxes and closing corporate loopholes
• Providing paid sick days to their employees, because a happy and healthy workforce is critical to all business success – regardless of size
• Urging San Diego County government to invest in services for all San Diegans

At Meza Family Restaurant Group, our employees are our family. When they can afford to live well, our businesses and economy thrive. That’s an achievement worthy of a holiday. Salud!