Stories: Breaking Down Barriers to Employment

FaQs

What is the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program?

The Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Initiative is an internal, employee-focused program that aims to address systemic barriers to employee success and economic mobility by providing important support services that center the holistic wellbeing of our employees. As part of Frontier Co-op's commitment to social responsibility, the program officially launched in 2018 and includes access to subsidized childcare options, transportation, second chance hiring practices, apprenticeship and skills training programs, a financial literacy & savings program and an ESL (English as Second Language) program in development to ensure participants are successful within the co-op, the manufacturing industry, and the wider community. You can learn more about the award-winning program here.

How does the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program support employees?

Frontier Co-op’s approach to our employee benefits strategy is that flexibility is paramount. As a company rooted in cooperative principles, we want our programs and policies to demonstrate how we see and value the whole person, so it’s important for us to be creative in how we’re helping employees thrive within the company and break down existing barriers to economic mobility. This was the genesis of our offered programs within the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Initiative, which include:
1. ‍Second Chance Hiring & Apprenticeships – A key pillar is our commitment to second chance hiring practices, made possible through Frontier Co-op's partnership with local organizations like Willis Dady Homeless Services in Cedar Rapids—which has served as a temp-agency for the company—to also establish an apprenticeship program to provide job opportunities, training, and a stable income to justice-involved individuals.
  1. To date, over 380 participants in its skills-training apprenticeship program have received tools to be successful both within the company, industry and elsewhere in the community since 2018.
  2. In 2022, 50% of the participating apprentices who were initially unhoused prior to employment were able to afford housing after being employed with Frontier Co-op‍
2. Transportation – Frontier Co-op offers subsidized transportation to and from the facility for just $5/day roundtrip.‍
3. Accessible Childcare – As part of Frontier Co-op’s 40-year legacy in accessible childcare, our childcare program benefits include on-site subsidized childcare currently at $2 per hour for employees ($100/week) which serves 73 employees, with 110 children participating.‍
4. Financial Literacy & Savings: A savings matching program to help employees reach their savings goals and improve their financial security. Through this program, over the course of a year participating employees will undergo financial literacy training and upon completion, will have their savings matched by Frontier Co-op up to $1,000 per year.
The initiative is also continuously evolving to meet the needs of current and future employees and currently in development is an ESL (English as Second Language) program to support current and future employees to learn English or improve their English language skill.

Does the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program apply to current and new hires?

All Frontier Co-op employees can benefit from the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program. In fact, the program serves as an innovative hiring, recruitment, and retention tactic that allows the company to meet staffing needs and contributes to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

How can people interested in learning more about the program or employment at Frontier Co-op learn more?

Anyone interested in learning more about the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program or employment at Frontier Co-op can reach out at sustainability@frontiercoop.com.

AWARD-WINNING BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

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