Add Raising Cane’s to the growing list of restaurant chains offering free tuition for employees amid a tight labor market.
The fast casual recently announced it would offer up to $5,250 a year in tuition reimbursement for full-time restaurant managers, support office workers and other employees.
That’s in addition to tuition discounts at a network of accredited schools through the Workforce Edge program, as well as reimbursed class costs to complete a high school diploma.
Raising Cane’s is also offering family tuition discounts, the chain announced.
The fast-growing chicken finger chain, which has more than 560 restaurants in 31 states and the Middle East, is slated to open 75 new locations this year and has plans to hire more than 10,000 new employees.
“We believe these new educational benefits will set a higher standard in the hospitality industry, doubling down on the commitments we have already made to the people who make Raising Cane’s so special,” AJ Kumaran, the chain’s co-CEO and COO, said in a statement.
Last May, the chain distributed $5 million in “thank-you” bonuses to workers nationwide who kept restaurants running during the pandemic.
A number of restaurant chains have recently added tuition benefits to lure workers in the tight job market.
McDonald’s recently noted that it is starting to see the impact of its recruitment and retention offerings, including a tuition program, as its stores note increased applicants and better staffing levels.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Yum Brands, and Noodles & Company have all added various tuition programs to their benefits packages. The restaurants join retailers, including Target, in sweetening their hiring packages with free college offerings.
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