USA. Mission Yogurt, a concessionaire at Denver International Airport, has launched a new programme to hire and retain top-tier talent. This include what the company said is a first-of-its-kind US$100 per week per diem for employees as compensation for their time spent getting to the airport and going through security.
“Airports are very rewarding and exciting places to work, but they can also be some of the most difficult locations to access for your shift, in regard to parking, then going through the security process,” said Mission Yogurt President Rod Tafoya. “Our weekly travel allowance is meant to show we understand the time that is spent to simply come to work, and we value that time.”
In addition, Mission Yogurt has created a non-profit fund, Mission Cares, that employees can access if they face unforeseeable hardships.
Through a dollar-for dollar matching programme, Mission Cares offers a fund for employees in need of ‘rainy-day grants’. All employees are welcome to contribute to this fund and are encouraged to apply for grants – paid by the organisation – to cover medical emergencies, natural disaster recovery and other circumstances that impact their ability to work or overcome from a personal crisis.
In addition to retention programmes, Mission’s Talent Knows Talent programme rewards current employees for their recruitment efforts with monetary incentives. Since July 2021, the company has hired and retained 70 employees through the scheme. With upcoming additions of new concepts and kiosks, Mission be close to 300 total employees by 2023.
The concessionaire said the initiatives come as the business and travel sector returns to pre-pandemic levels. The company said in a statement that at the height of the pandemic, it earned just 5% of its pre-COVID sales, and retained only 30% of its staff, but kept 14 stores open.
The Denver-based business earned recognition for its efforts to retain its employees during the global pandemic such as the Airport Experience News’ award for Best ACDBE Operator in 2020 and Airports Council International North America’s Concessionaire Adaptability Award in 2022.
Mission Yogurt was founded in 1988 by Denver local Rod Tafoya and launched its first store at Denver International Airport in 1995 with Sara Lee Sandwich Shop/Colombo Yogurt and Que Bueno! Mexican Grille. It currently has 11 units at Denver, two at San Diego International Airport and a Denver area Mexican restaurant, Que Bueno Suerte. This figure will more than double to 30 as it expands in the next year across its locations.
