McDonalds franchisee serves up benefits to employees

One local employer might have a solution to the nation's low unemployment rate.

Steve Bigari, owner of nine McDonalds restaurants in Colorado Springs, has been master-minding an employment plan during the past five years and recently presented his blueprint to a number of local employers at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center.

Bigari's plan involves taking the low-income wage earner who does not have an education, experience or basic living suste nance, such as child care or transportation, and giving them a hand up - not a hand out.

"The free market is forcing us to took at this (employment) problem differently," said Bigari.

His plan not only assists these limited-skill workers in learning how to take control of their lives, but also can be an asset to other businesses in the community including the high-tech field.

His plan consists of six elements - health care, childcare, transportation, housing, education, and training.

"Most people operate on a crisis basis," Bigari said, adding that most people with limited means haven't learned how to be self-sufficient. If they could reach that level, they would be on a level playing field and have more opportunities in life.