Dive Brief:

• Taco Bell has announced a program to offer educational support to its 210,000 team members nationwide. Provided through Guild Education, the offering came in response to employee demand, the company says; educational support was identified as one of the top three benefits employees requested.
• Staff can access personalized college advisors, tuition discounts for thousands of classes, and, from day one of employment, discounts for certificates and degree programming. Eighty online, non-profit universities and e-learning providers will offer basics, like high school equivalency and ESL classes, as well as advanced degree programming, like bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• The program, piloted in 2017 with 2,000 employees, resulted in a 34% increase in retention over six months for employees enrolled in the program versus those not enrolled.

Dive Insight:

In an era where retention is more critical than ever, Taco Bell appears to have listened to its employees and responded to their needs; increasing retention by more than one-third is no small accomplishment. The company joins a host of retail and hospitality pushing to upskill and educate staff in an effort to both train and retain. Many offer high school equivalency classes and some even offer career growth training to family members of employees. Guild Education also is a fairly big name in the space, as it is partnered with Chipotle and Lyft, among others.

The accessibility of e-learning has had a significant impact on employers' ability to provide training for employees who don't work in an office. Mobile-ready programs are allowing employers to reach deskless workers, and the more digestible formats are helping the lessons stick.

Employers are responding to the tight talent market's demands and viewing training as a means to attract employees, boost engagement and decrease turnover. They're doing so just in time, too, as younger workers increasingly expect development to be part of their work experience.