Dive Brief:
- In a move aimed squarely at the ongoing talent wars, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will now offer free college tuition benefits to all employees, spouses and children.
- After delivering the benefit in May to its U.S. division dealerships in the Southeast, FCA's partnership with Strayer University, an online for-profit school, will be used to recruit and retain top talent, Fortune reports.
- The free tuition offer can be used by 118,000 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck and FIAT dealership workers nationally, as well as spouses and children.
Dive Insight
John Fox, director of dealer training at FCA U.S., told Fortune, told Fortune that FCA annual turnover at dealerships is in the 65% to 85% range, according to Fox. So the company does have a bit of a problem on the retention front.
Fortune reports that part-time and full-time FCA employees with a month on the job at a dealership are eligible for associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in 40 degree categories at the 123-year-old school, based in Virginia. They can attend classes at one of Strayer's 78 campuses, or do it all online.
“It’s a battle to put kids through college,” John Fox, director of dealer training at FCA U.S., Fox told Fortune. “This is a benefit that can surely bring top talent to our dealers.”
Starbucks also offers free tuition to employees (on Nov. 9, it extended the benefit to and family members of employees who are current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces), but it only pays the freight after the courses are completed, not before, as FCA has pledged to do.
