Retention programs can take on many forms, and Taco Bell’s education benefits for employees are a prime example of how initiatives can be set up to support workers. Instead of limiting the use of this benefit solely to company-owned operations, Taco Bell is now extending its “Tacos & Tuition” program to participating franchise locations to widen the scope of its benefits for its hard-working employees.
The expansion of the tuition program will not only aid the organization in inspiring loyalty among workers but also vastly improve the quality of life for employees who want to expand their horizons, eliminating the financial barriers that currently stand in their way.
Taco Bell’s education benefits through the “Tacos & Tuition” program will now be available to employees at participating franchise locations. (Image: Taco Bell)
Taking Another Look at Retention Through Taco Bell’s Education Benefits
Taco Bell’s “Tacos & Tuition” program is expanding in a myriad of ways, the primary of which is the extension of the benefit to “employees of all levels at participating franchise locations.” The program was previously limited to company-owned restaurant team members and its corporate employees, and it has been successful in its own right.
In a recent announcement explaining the expansion, the company explained that in 2025, the retention of team members has improved 17% year-over-year, and general manager vacancies have reduced by 27%. The success has pushed the business to expand its education benefits to a wider number of employees across the US. The Taco Bell tuition program is being offered to employees in partnership with InStride, and it will help open the doors to a variety of online programs from a range of institutions.
In an era where AI investments are leading the way as a replacement for employees and employee benefits, Taco Bell’s retention initiative is refreshing. This isn’t to say that the organization hasn’t experimented with the world of AI. The company previously attempted to funnel its resources into AI-powered drive-thrus that were mostly disliked by customers. While the concept remains an active part of the Taco Bell business plan, the expansion of the education benefit is a welcome consideration.
What Does Taco Bell’s Education-Driven Retention Strategy Look Like?
The mission behind Taco Bell’s Tacos & Tuition program is a novel one, with the business explaining, “The customer experience should never exceed the Team Member experience, because when people feel supported, they create experiences worth coming back for.” From the belief statement, it is apparent that the business hopes to improve the employee experience and bolster their satisfaction at work, so employees can then, in turn, feel more motivated to support customers.
The approach is an unusual one, as customer and client satisfaction typically leads the way for investments at most businesses, with employee welfare often a retrospective consideration when the retention numbers begin to waver. As part of the education benefits being championed by Taco Bell, employees will gain access to over 3,000 online programs and courses from top institutions, allowing them to pursue anything from an ESL or GED qualification to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Without having to confront any form of out-of-pocket costs to access this education, employees will have greater freedom to pursue a degree of their choice, while also having organizational support in their educational ambitions. Some of the programs will even consider on-the-job training as credits contributing towards their degrees, allowing them to make significant headway in their educational journeys.
Are Educational Benefits the Future of Employee Retention?
Impressive pay can be an attractive marker on a job posting that draws candidates towards the role, but it is the benefits that determine retention. When asked directly, most employees look to flexibility and culture as core determining factors when scrolling through employment opportunities. The reason for flexibility being of primary importance is that it gives many employees the freedom to cut unnecessary costs and pursue other goals simultaneously.
Organizations that provide educational benefits of any form, whether in terms of AI training, access to higher education, or even financial literacy, can vastly help in improving the employees’ on-the-job potential as well as help them make progress towards their financial goals.
Health and retirement benefits are also cherished by employees, and similar to Taco Bell’s education benefits, they aid in improving the individual’s quality of life while also boosting their performance on the job.
Considerate Employee Benefits Go a Long Way In Supporting Retention
Determining the best benefits to provide at your organization largely depends on the makeup of your workforce and the accessibility to resources. In most scenarios, there is a distinct advantage to providing educational assistance, as employees always benefit from continued learning, opening their minds to new ideas and concepts that can be channeled back to their work. This helps them keep up with the evolution of their industry of choice.
Taco Bell’s education benefits are set to aid the business with “developing top talent through expanded leadership programs, education pathways, and best-in-class benefits,” and pursuing similar contributions at your organization could be a noteworthy move for your business, too.
What do you think about Taco Bell’s education benefits for its employees? Share your opinions with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.