| The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of individuals who have participated in a company-sponsored tuition assistance plan (TAP). The study focused on any business industry where employees have access to a professional development benefit. For this study, the professional development benefit assessed was TAPs. The study provides a descriptive account of exploring the characteristics and feelings of participants who have used a TAP. Data analysis revealed core themes from the responses to the open-ended interview questions. The themes included (a) improvement of leadership, (b) lack of program (TAP) visibility, and (c) lack of recognition through rewards and incentives. The findings indicate that while TAPs are beneficial, organizations must ensure that employees are aware of the plan benefits and understand the plan rules. Future study is recommended to consider the cross-generations within the workplace and understand the common interest between employees of different generations and the desires to earn a higher educational degree. |
