Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its exceptional value, people-first attitude and “Crazy Good Food,” has announced an expansion of the ed2go Career Online High School (COHS) program and myTimeENGLISH (MTE) online ESL program to employees nationwide.

The Career Online High School (COHS) program launched in a pilot in February 2018 in select Ohio and Michigan stores. Due to the pilot’s success, eligible employees at all corporate-owned U.S. locations can now earn an accredited high school diploma, along with a workforce training certificate in fields such as food services, customer service, hospitality and general career preparation.

“For more than 30 years, the key to the success of our business is our people and we have always focused on moving our people forward,” said Marna Killian, Checkers & Rally’s SVP people. “We already invest heavily in programs that reward and retain employees, and in our Learning Management System to train our team members on restaurant operations. Now, with ed2go, we can further our educational benefits for employees in this program, giving them the opportunity to earn their high school diplomas and advance their careers.” 

“As technology changes jobs, companies need to continually upskill their workforce in order to remain competitive. With this partnership Checkers & Rally’s is able to expand training for frontline workers and give existing and prospective employees a clear path to upward mobility within the organization,” said Cory Eyler, vice president and general manager, ed2go.

Checkers & Rally’s is one of a growing number of companies, including Hilton, Goodwill, and First Watch, partnering with ed2go, part of Cengage, to offer education and upskilling opportunities to employees through the COHS programs. Benefits like COHS and MTE can help improve employee retention, reduce turnover, enhance the ability to promote from within and increase return on educational investment. 

It is estimated that roughly 25 percent of the frontline restaurant industry workforce dropped out of high school before earning their diploma.*  For many employees, programs such as COHS is the first step to educational attainment and career advancement. Based on preliminary research** conducted for restaurant and retail organizations offering COHS:

• More than half of employees who earned their high school diploma through COHS were promoted within six months of completing the program 
• 92 percent of graduates gained skills gained skills and knowledge that helped in their job
• Employee retention doubled at participating companies and favorable opinions of employers increased nearly 70 percent
• 98 percent of graduates would recommend the program to others
  “We are thrilled that Checkers & Rally’s is expanding the program to help further engage its employees in the educational system and improve their career outlook,” said Dr. Howard Liebman, district superintendent of COHS’s accredited online school district. “With COHS, we hope to help Checkers & Rally’s attract and retain talent, while building a skilled, engaged workforce.”