Bright Horizons is helping Dutch Bros. employees go back to school for free

The best way to show your employees that you care about them in the present is to invest in their future — and Dutch Bros. is taking the leap.

The Oregon-based coffee chain recently announced that it has partnered with Bright Horizons EdAssist to offer its baristas and corporate employees a new Education Benefit Program, according to a press release. The benefit will enable employees to pursue a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and skills-based short-term credential certification at no out-of-pocket expense.

Read more: Making the back-to-school season a time for benefits education

“Financial barriers are one of the top reasons that adult learners don't go back to school,” says Jill Buban, the vice president and general manager at Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions. “So being able to take that away is really great.”

Nearly half of American workers state that their education became even more important for their growth in the past year, according to research conducted by Bright Horizons EdAssist. But despite an increase in want, the data also found that 30% of working adults say not having the money to pay for additional schooling is the top barrier to pursuing advanced education.

Read more: Employees are demanding tuition-free education benefits

Which is why Dutch Bros. made their offering as comprehensive as possible. Covered expenses include tuition fees and textbooks — which can cost up to $2,000 a term, according to Buban. The offering also includes Bright Horizon EdAssist’s Fast Track program, which allows employees to take a number of courses at their own pace.

Should a traditional degree not interest workers, the benefit program also provides upskiling and reskilling that can create a path to additional positions within their current company.

“How do we plan for the future of our workforce?” Buban says. “Employees feel really good about a company that's investing in the future. A company that's saying ‘we're going to provide a benefit for so you can attain the goal that you've always had.’”