Texas Roadhouse announced last week that it’s added tuition reimbursement to its list of benefits as restaurants continue to battle the nationwide labor shortage.
According to local media, the company will take care of up to $5,250 in annual tuition for those working more than 30 hours per week, as long as the individual earns at least a “C” average from an accredited institution. The reimbursement applies to both Texas Roadhouse and Bubba’s 33 employees. The company is preparing for a major employment push on October 25 with a National Hiring Day.
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“Texas Roadhouse and Bubba’s 33 offer rewarding and fun career opportunities—complete with competitive pay, based on experience,” the casual-dining chain told media in a news release. “The restaurants believe in putting people first and promoting from within. The company encourages ‘Roadies’ to love what they do today and prepare for tomorrow through extensive training and opportunities for advancement.”
CEO Jerry Morgan informed analysts in late July that most Texas Roadhouse restaurants had made “great strides” in staffing while others struggled to maintain necessary employment levels on a consistent basis. He added the chain hosted a National Hiring Day in Q2, which contributed to the company adding 5,000 workers in the quarter.
“We know which stores need help specifically,” Morgan said. “And we’re really focused on that as a team. Our regional market partners, our managing partners at the store level, and our support center here—we have a very dynamic team that is focused to support our restaurants. As we continue to get staffing, we will be able to provide even probably higher comp sales and a little better service to our guests. So we are continue a full-court press on getting properly staffed across the country, especially where a lot of them are there. But there’s still a lot that need some help, and we are absolutely all hands on deck to help support that.”
Texas Roadhouse joins a growing list of companies boosting educational benefits amid the labor crisis. In early August, Raising Cane’s revealed that it was bolstering its benefits package by offering hourly and managerial employees up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement, family tuition discounts, and college-level courses in numerous study areas. Chipotle began boosting educational perks prior to COVID. In October 2019, the fast casual unveiled a new benefit in which the brand covers 100 percent of tuition costs up front for 75 different types of business and technology degrees via Guild Education. That’s in addition to its $5,250 tuition reimbursement.
Throughout 2020, Texas Roadhouse spent more than $20 million in COVID pay, relief, and bonuses for employees.
