EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF TUITION REIMBURSMENT PROGRAMS ON ACTUAL TURNOVER IN MANUFACTURING: PRE- AND POST-COVID INSIGHTS

INTRODUCTION In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, it is critical to research and understand the vital, and often expensive, ways in which employee benefits impact turnover and retention, two of [...]
This study explores the efficacy of tuition reimbursement programs in addressing turnover and retention concerns, leveraging comprehensive data spanning pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods. Through extensive survey data collected from manufacturing businesses in Middle Tennessee, encompassing four years and 1,247 responses, this study evaluates the impact of tuition reimbursement programs on turnover rates and perceptions through comparisons between organizations who provide tuition reimbursement benefits and those who do not. The findings suggest that organizations offering tuition reimbursement achieve lower turnover rates and perceive turnover as less of a challenge compared to their counterparts lacking such programs. Moreover, even with the upheaval wrought by the CO VID-19 pandemic, these trends persisted, despite the overall inflation of turnover that began post-pandemic. In conclusion, this study advocates for the strategic integration of tuition reimbursement programs as a potentially powerful tool for mitigating turnover challenges and nurturing employee retention.