Dive Brief:
- Mod Pizza has partnered with Guild to provide over 10,000 employees at company-owned locations access to tuition-free college degree programs, the company announced Thursday.
- The expansion of Mod’s Journey Program will include coverage of the full cost of tuition, as well as books and fees for staff members looking to earn bachelor’s degrees and professional certificates or to enroll in English language learning through Guild’s Learning Marketplace and Career Opportunity Platform.
- Mod Pizza previously partnered with Penn Foster in 2021 to help employees earn their high school diplomas.
Dive Insight:
Mod’s expanded benefits may help it become a more competitive employer, especially as brands like Starbucks, Papa Johns, Chipotle and Chili’s provide more educational perks to staff. Mod’s Journey Program will provide access to 19 educational, skills-based and career development programs, according to the press release. Guild offers flexible classes that can accommodate various schedules and allows students to access support from Guild coaches. Among the institutions available on the platform are eCornell, Spelman College, Southern New Hampshire University and Penn Foster.
Mod’s educational program could improve retention of its workforce, especially as it continues to open new restaurants. In 2021, Mod surpassed 500 restaurants and now has over 520 units across 29 states and in Canada. Lack of access to professional development and promotional opportunities is one of the top reasons workers leave the restaurant industry, according to a 2021 Black Box Intelligence/Snagjob report. Improved professional development through educational benefits may make workers more likely to stay.
In 2020, Mod joined a coalition intended to create 1 million jobs for adults with autism, intellectual and developmental differences by 2025. The company has provided jobs to workers who were previously imprisoned, in addition to hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
