How to get Amazon (and other retailers) to pay your tuition

Seeking to attract and retain talent in a tight labor market, Amazon announced yesterday that they will cover 100% of the tuition fees of its frontline employees. And Amazon isn’t alone: ​​other big retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Starbucks, increasingly offer free educational benefits to set themselves apart from their competition. Here is an overview of what they offer.

How Amazon’s New Education Advantage Works

Starting in January, Amazon frontline workers will have paid the full cost of their college education (including fees, books, tuition), as well as the costs of completing their studies. secondary school or ESL certificates.

Part-time employees who working as little as 20 hours per week are also eligible, although Amazon will only cover 50% of their costs, by the Wall Street Journal. The program starts 90 days after an employee’s start date, and there is no limit on the number of years they can use the benefit. It is important to note that Amazon will pay these tuition and fees in advance, which means employees won’t have to pay for their education up front and claim reimbursement later.

Amazon is also launching three internal training programs that will train employees to data center Technology, computer science, user experience and research design.

Why are they offering this benefit now?

Amazon, which has been criticized for its working conditions and demand quotas-is desperate to hire and retain employees, having hiring more than 500,000 workers in the past year only. The company has deep pockets, so it is willing to invest the money in exchange for a more stable workforce, even if the tuition recipients leave for other companies. It is also a competitive decision, as other large retail employers recently announced 100% education benefits for their employees.

Other large retailers that offer paid education

• Last month, Walmart announced an education program that covers 100% of tuition for 1.5 million part-time and full-time employees in the United States, including those who work in his Sam’s club stores. The program is very similar to what Amazon currently offers. More details can be found here.
• Target recently announced that its 340,000 U.S. workers are eligible for a 100% paid college education program, which covers tuition and books for a number of programs over 40 schools and universities across the country. The company will also pay up to $ 10,000 per year for master’s programs within its network of schools. More information can be found here.
• Disney also offers 100% paid tuition for full-time and part-time employees through their Disney Aspire Network Schools, which includes undergraduate and graduate courses. More information can be found here.
• Dad johns has a “Pasta and diplomas” program in which employees at company-owned sites are eligible for a 100% tuition reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate online study programs through a partnership with Purdue World University. To be eligible, employees must work at least 20 hours per week and be employed for at least 90 days. More information can be found here.
• Chipotle offers free tuition for agriculture, cooking and hospitality degrees through a network of accredited universities and colleges. To be eligible, employees must have worked at least four months at the workplace, with a minimum of 15 hours per week. More information can be found here.
• Starbucks pay the full cost of an online degree at Arizona State University for U.S. employees who work at least 20 hours per week. According to the Wall Street Journal, There are 50 fields of study, ranging from the history of art to town planning. More information can be found here.