News

Noodles & Co adding extra maternity benefits

September 19, 2018

Noodles & Company is making it easier for expecting mothers to balance work and motherhood, according to a company press release. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, they'll be able to phase out of work before giving birth and phase back in after maternity leave, allowing them to work an 80 percent schedule the four weeks before and the four weeks after maternity leave while receiving 100 percent pay.

The benefit is part of the chain's Life@Noodles benefits initiative, which aims to make Noodles & Company one of the best places to work in the fast casual industry, Dave Boennighausen, chief executive officer of Noodles & Company, said in the release.

"Transitioning to and from maternity leave can be a difficult time for mothers. Through our Life@Noodles initiative, we strive to make that adjustment easier for our team members," he said in the release. "This phase-out, phase-in program, which is unavailable elsewhere in the fast casual industry, added to our already robust maternity, paternity and adoption benefits and reflects our commitment to nourishing and inspiring our Noodles & Company team. Our team members work hard for us, and we want to express our gratitude by offering top-of-the-line benefits that support them in and out of the workplace."

Research shows that after giving birth, one in nine women experience postpartum depression, in addition to sleep deprivation and difficulty managing breastfeeding. Reentering the work world too quickly can increase work-related concerns and compound those issues. Phasing out of maternity leave allows mothers time to balance their work and personal lives and creates a work environment where employees can thrive.

Other family-focused benefits offered at Noodles & Company include:

• Six weeks of fully paid maternity leave and expanded parental leave.
• Adoption assistance of up to $10,000.
•  Breast milk shipment during business travel.
•  Flexible time off for corporate team members.

Additional ways Noodles & Company supports all its employees include student loan debt assistance and competitive standard benefits, such as dental and vision coverage, employee assistance programs, and 401(k) retirement plans. Additionally, assistant general managers and above can take advantage of Noodles & Company's medical and life insurance and disability coverage offerings.