Ebert Velasquez Ramos (right) works at the drive-through at a McDonald’s in Morningside, Md. Ramos relies on a startup called Escalate, which provides Uber vouchers for employees needing last-minute rides, among other types of support. Without a car, getting to work remains challenging for Ramos: buses are unreliable, and he sometimes relies on friends or family for rides. However, when these options fail, Escalate helps him arrive on time.
The young high school graduate has held this job for about a month. It’s his first job and his managers appreciate his punctuality and personable demeanor. He appreciates the unique support offered by Escalate. “I don’t know if any other jobs have that option,” he commented.
Cofounded by veterans of the nonprofit sector, Sienna Daniel and Sean Segal, Escalate aims to solve practical employment challenges.
After years of training underserved individuals for employment, Daniel and Segal faced hurdles like transportation and childcare issues. This often led to job loss, despite opportunities being available. “Opportunities might be there, but if they aren’t stabilized and they don’t have what they need to be able to get to where they need to go, there’s a problem,” Daniel stated.
Escalate’s Solution
To combat this, they conceptualized Escalate. The app offers last-minute assistance, reducing absenteeism, which can cost companies heavily. They posited that if businesses provided workers the support they need to get to work, every party could benefit.
A McDonald’s Pilot
In 2025, Escalate received funding from the state of Maryland to run a pilot with Hopkins-Navies Ford Management’s McDonald’s franchise. For six months, employees had access to the app to request emergency support, like Uber rides or grocery gift cards.
Mary Hopkins-Navies and Imani Ford, the franchise owners, were initially skeptical. HR manager Chantel Johnson also doubted Escalate’s utility, but a winter storm shifted perceptions. The storm rendered regular travel options unreliable, proving the app’s value.
Escalate made adaptations to cater to its users; translating the app into Spanish improved usability for many employees. As a result, skepticism shifted to gratitude for both employees and the franchise, reducing callouts and fostering staff retention.
Preventing Abuse
Daniel emphasized safeguards against misuse: workers can make up to three monthly requests for support. After exceeding this limit, Escalate connects them with a coach to problem solve. Most requests occur within 90 minutes before shifts, predominantly for transportation.
Cost and Expansion Plans
Since the conclusion of the grant-funded pilot, the franchise covers Escalate’s $250 monthly fee per store, plus the cost of vouchers and cards. During the pilot, these expenses averaged $250 per month per store but offset callout losses of approximately $35,000 per month across seven locations.
Moving forward, Escalate plans rapid expansion. They currently serve other sectors, including retail and manufacturing. Additionally, discussions with other McDonald’s franchises are underway. Mary Hopkins-Navies intends to introduce Escalate to other operators during an upcoming meeting to highlight its benefits.
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