McDonald's launches app to enhance education benefits for US staff

McDonald’s has launched a career exploration app to help US employees in 36,000 restaurants maximise the learning and education benefits available to them

The app, Archway to Careers, builds upon the organisation's existing Archways to Opportunity programme, which offers McDonald's staff the opportunity to learn English language skills, earn a high school diploma, benefit from education and careers advisors, and receive up to $3,000 upfront college tuition assistance once they have worked for the organisation for 90 days.

The app, which was built in conjunction with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and success coaching organisation InsideTrack, offers employees a real-time career advisory tool through which they can access professional advisors to support, coach and help them to chart an educational pathway to their desired future role or career, either with McDonald's or outside of the organisation.

Rob Lauber, chief learning officer at McDonalds, said: “The McDonald’s system workforce has immeasurable talent to offer, and with its existing education benefits coupled with this rich new mobile experience, restaurant employees are better equipped to discover and advance their careers, positioning themselves for long-term career success no matter where they end up.”

"We are proud to continue to invest in and create more opportunity for those that work at McDonald's."

Isa Rodriguez, owner/operator at McDonald's Miami and Florida, added: “Now, with a click on the app, restaurant employees have access to the right tools and advisors to help guide them closer to where they want to be and McDonald’s will provide tuition assistance and the qualified support to get them there.”

To date, Archway to Opportunity has supported over 50,000 restaurant employees and has given out $90 million in tuition assistance.