Hamra Enterprises pays $92K for employees' good grades

Hamra Enterprises LLC is investing in the education of its employees with financial rewards.

The Springfield-based restaurant franchisee announced in a news release that student employees have earned $91,800 since its Hamra Homework program was launched companywide a year ago.

The program, which started as a pilot initiative prior to the systemwide rollout, rewards employees $300 for straight A’s on their report cards, $200 for A’s and B’s, and $100 for all B’s. The initiative had 378 employees who participated in the last year.

“Our company philosophy is grounded in employee opportunity and self-discovery, and nowhere does that count more than education,” said Mike Hamra, CEO of Hamra Enterprises, in the release. “Student employees are an integral part of the Hamra Enterprises family, and this is an important way we can help them succeed at work and in the classroom.”

The Hamra Homework program additionally allows student employees up to an hour of homework time per each qualified shift, officials say. The program is available in nearly 200 restaurants across 11 states under the Wendy’s, Panera, Noodles and Co. and Caribou Coffee brands.

Hamra Enterprises additionally has provided 671 tuition reimbursement grants totaling $265,000 through its Hamra Employees Reaching Out Fund since 2019, according to the release.