��«����Ƶ launched the first-of-its-kind program in 2018, allowing employees who contribute 2% of their pay toward their student loans to receive 5% of their pay in their 401(k). That’s even if they don’t contribute any money of their own toward their retirement account. 

Four years later, about 1,900 ��«����Ƶ employees have signed up for Freedom 2 Save with an uptick in enrollments over the last two years. In 2021, the average monthly enrollment was 50% higher than in 2019.

“The popularity of this program tells us that student loans remain a challenge for our employees,” said Mary Moreland, executive vice president, Human Resources. “We know . That’s why we’re committed to continuing this program, which helps employees like Leahannah live financially successful lives.”

��«����Ƶ created the program after hearing from employees that they were having a hard time both paying their student loans and contributing to their retirement accounts. By design, Freedom 2 Save ensures employees don’t miss out on the benefits of starting their 401(k) savings earlier in their careers.

“I was able to start my retirement savings early and take advantage of compound interest,” Leahannah says. “I’m hoping that means I’ll have a nest egg worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more by the time I retire.”

That investment extends for future generations.

As part of ��«����Ƶ’s 2030 Sustainability Plan, the company aims to expand Freedom 2 Save to further support employees’ financial security. The goal is to provide $10 million in matching contributions to program participants’ retirement accounts by the turn of the next decade.