Staffing

The big bonuses of building better benefits for QSR employees

That old notion that you only get out of something what you put into it applies equally well to QSR employees, as Checkers & Rally's discovered through recent investments in their employee benefits programs.

Checkers & Rally's see great returns on its investment in employee benefits. (Photo provided)

September 22, 2020

By Checkers & Rally's Senior Vice President, People Marna Killian

As a more than 30-year-old brand, we at Checkers & Rally's know that the success of our organization is dependent on putting our people first by motivating them to grow within the company. With this in mind, we intentionally seek benefits that match our employees' needs. This is especially true in particularly difficult times like these, and we've noted where we can continue to help support them.

Marna Killian. (Photo provided)

First, we've partnered with Ed2Go's Career Online High School, or COHS, to offer our employees the opportunity to earn their diplomas and entry-level workforce certificates, as well as the opportunity to participate in ESL programs through myTimeENGLISH, or MTE.

Ed2Go estimated that about 25% of frontline employees in the restaurant industry left high school before earning their diplomas. By introducing programs like COHS and MTE, Checkers & Rally's hope to inspire our employees to seek career advancement within the brand. The benefits of programs like these include improved employee retention, lower turnover and an enhanced ability to promote from within — all of which increase the brand's ROI when it comes to education.

Beyond the COHS and MTE programs, we want to emphasize how beneficial our Learning Management System has been for our employees. The in-depth training that this program provides teaches the "ins and outs" of restaurant operations, as well as leadership skills. That means employees not only learn more about working in their current roles, but they also learn ways to move up the ladder within our organization.

Key COVID-19-era employee questions answered

In addition to encouraging our employees to grow beyond their initial roles, we want to acknowledge the changing workforce that COVID-19 has introduced. Many people are taking this time to reflect on the current state of their careers, asking themselves, "Is this a good fit for me long-term? Am I happy within my current position?" We want our employees to feel good about where they work.

To keep our current employees excited about their positions, while also inspiring prospective Checkers & Rally's employees, the brand has rolled out a 15-point safety plan, It includes an array of benefits, like "Thank YOU Pay," as well as extended sick leave for those employees who have had to stay at home due to COVID-19-related issues. The plan also includes closure pay for employees who worked in stores that were required to close, as well as a retail and grocery employment exchange program.

It's through programs and initiatives like those mentioned here that brands like ours are building strong and significant relationships with employees. So, while the returns on such programs in reduced turnover and enhanced engagement are certainly important, inspiring employees to advance in their careers here is also critical because it grows long-term commitment and the kind of on-the-job confidence Checkers & Rally's take great pride in.

So far, our pilots of Ed2Go and myTimeENGLISH have been well-received by employees. They have also been key in "selling" the brand to potential and incoming employees. As a result, we have great confidence that Checkers & Rally's will see continued success with these programs that, in turn, yield continued success for our brands.