Chipotle, also known as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., is a very popular American chain of restaurants that are currently present in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and France. They are fast food-based, casual, and specialize in tacos and Mission burritos. The company derives its name from chipotle, the Nahuatl name for a dried and smoked jalapeño chili pepper. No wonder, anyone would love to work in the sizzling environment of Chipotle and reap its benefits and perks. So read on, we got you covered. The topic is- Chipotle Employee Benefits.
Chipotle provides numerous benefits to its employees. According to Glassdoor, they reward their team with bonuses and promotions to attract top talent. All full-time and part-time employees are also offered medical, dental, and vision insurance. They also offer adoption assistance, pet insurance, a two-month paid sabbatical after 10 years, discounted employee stock purchase plan, wellness programs, and free burritos for everyone. We will go more into detail about Chipotle below.
Restaurant Workers Benefits
According to Chipotle’s website, the benefits for their employees who work hourly at their restaurants are as follows :
- Quarterly Bonus – If a restaurant does well, an employee can be eligible for a bonus equal to a week’s pay. And if the restaurant continues to do well throughout the year, then employees can get an additional month of pay.
- Assistance in Education – The students who work at Chipotle, get up to $5,250 each year and they also offer a Debt-Free Degree Program.
- Free Food – One free meal for every daily shift is received by all Chipotle employees. They get one entrée, one side, and one drink.
- Paid Time Off – Chipotle employees can accrue up to 40 vacation hours a year. They also get 24 hours of sick time. Vacation accrues at Chipotle start after one year of an employee’s service.
- Assistance Program – Chipotle cares about its employees’ mental health. The employees can speak with licensed counselors for free. This service is available 24×7 and it’s completely confidential.
- Retirement Plan – Chipotle offers its employees a 401 (K) retirement plan after one year of service.
They also offer some –
- Healthcare Advocacy – This is a free service and helps employees to answer benefits questions, schedule appointments, negotiate bills, research cost, and care options, understand the treatment, and more.
- Stock Purchase Plan – The employees who have worked for more than a year at Chipotle, can buy partial or full shares of Chipotle stock at discounted prices.
- Health-Related Plans – All Chipotle crew members get medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance.
- Annual Bonus – All employees at Chipotle get a bonus in December every year.
- Uniforms for Free – The Chipotle uniform (shirts and hats) are given to the employees for free.
- Telemedicine – This service is also offered by Chipotle to treat and diagnose medical conditions via phone as it provides access to board-certified physicians in the US.
- Discount for Gym Membership – Chipotle has a partnership with Active & Fit Direct and employees can choose from 10,000+ fitness centers. They have the flexibility to change anytime.
- Discounts – Chipotle employees can get discounts at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. They can also save on famous national and local brands with Perkspot.
Management and Support Staff Benefits –
The benefits for the management and the support staff team at Chipotle are slightly different. Let’s take a look:
- Medical, Vision, and Dental – For management and support staff employees, medical, vision, and dental insurance are provided.
- Education Assistance – In this field too, $5,250 is offered to students along with the Debt-Free Degree Program.
- Assistance Program – This staff also has access to free counseling where they can interact with counselors 24×7.
- Wellness Rewards – when employees participate in the Chipotle wellness plan, then they are eligible to receive a wellness credit every year.
- Paid Time Off – For management and staff employees, Chipotle offers sick, vacation, and holiday time off.
Apart from this, other benefits offered are:
- Healthcare Advocacy – Free advocacy service is offered to Chipotle employees, such as scheduling appointments, understanding treatments, etc.
- Telemedicine – This text-based service is provided to all employees in the management and support staff team which includes treating and diagnosing medical conditions over the phone.
- Financial Counseling – Employees working in management and support staff get access to a free online portal that gives guidance in monitoring finances.
- Reimbursement Accounts – Chipotle offers Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, and more to its management and support staff team.
- Parental Leave – A new mother will get up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, whereas a new father will get four weeks.
- Disability And Life Insurance – Chipotle will pay the full cost of basic life, AD&D insurance, and Dependent Life insurance.
- Other Discounts – Employees will get discounts at AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. They can also get discounts at several brands with Perkspot.
- Gym Discount for Membership – Chipotle offers membership discounts to more than 10,000+ gyms in partnership with Active & Fit Direct. Employees also have the flexibility to change anytime.
- Adoption Assistance – Chipotle reimburses 80% of eligible expenses related to the adoption of an employee’s child, up to $7,500 per child.
- Voluntary Benefits – There are several other additional benefits too, such as Accident and Hospitality Indemnity Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, etc.
- Stock Purchase Plan – Last but not least, for management and staff employees, full or partial shares of Chipotle stock can be bought using payroll deductions.
Other things to know about Chipotle –
Salaries –
According to talent.com, Chipotle has an average salary of $29,250 per year in the USA, which is equal to about $15 per hour. The starting pay is about $26,613 per year and the most experienced workers can earn up to $65,000 per year. Chipotle employees get paid biweekly.
According to Glassdoor, the average cashier and cook at Chipotle earn about $11 per hour, whereas a General Manager earns approximately $30 per hour. The job with the highest pay at Chipotle is of an area management director with a salary of $141,243 per year. In 2021, Chipotle increased their wages from $11 per hour to $15 per hour on average for most employees.
According to Chipotle, their employees can make up to $100,000 after just three years on the job.
Hiring Process & Requirements –
There are several hiring requirements at Chipotle. Before getting into the hiring process, it’s advised that people do some research first. The hiring age is a minimum of 16 years and above. Most high school and college students can work here part-time as there is no previous experience required.
The application filling is usually done online. If Chipotle likes a person’s application, then they will give a callback back and will inform the person regarding the interview process. The interview questions are usually general and they test Chipotle’s knowledge of a person. Dress appropriately for the interview. The interview questions would be like –
- Why do you want to work here at Chipotle?
- Does Chipotle fit into your career goals, and if so, then how?
- What is customer service to you?
- Can you work in a fast-paced environment like that of Chipotle?
- Where do you see yourself in the next 3-5 years?
Sometimes a job offer can be made right at the end of an interview, whereas sometimes Chipotle contacts the person a few days later. Upon getting selected, the new employee will first have an orientation for a few hours and then will receive hands-on training by a crew member or a manager for a week or two. The training process is usually quick and fast. It is also paid training. Once the employee will understand the work, rules, and regulations of the restaurant, then they can begin their work.
Sometimes, Chipotle may do background checks of their new employees, but mostly they do not. They also don’t do any drug tests.
Other perks –
For part-time employees, the work is approximately 20 to 30 hours a week. The working hours are flexible for students, but sometimes the shifts can be extremely long, depending on the store’s needs and customer population.
Employees also receive a free meal for every shift they work. They receive a burrito or a bowl with a drink. They are also offered 50% off for meals when they are not working.
Dress Code –
The dress code at Chipotle is pretty much like other fast-food restaurants. Jewelry is not allowed, hair must be in a bun, and employees are required to wear the Chipotle shirt and hat. Tattoos, hair dyes are okay unless they are inappropriate, and showing off skin isn’t allowed, so pants are a must and no employee must wear shorts; slip-resistant shoes are a must for every employee.
Yearly Evaluation –
There is a yearly evaluation for every employee which depicts how much raise a particular employee will get. Typically, raises happen twice a year, or every six months. Usually, it’s little at first, however, promotions also depend upon an employee’s proficiency and dedication to do the job.
Chipotle also has philanthropic pursuits. Local economies, sustainable agriculture, and food education are funded and supported by the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions –
Following are some FAQS about Chipotle.
What is a typical day at Chipotle like?
Most crew members have to prepare food, grill, dishwasher, clean tables, stock bathrooms, napkins, lids, cups, and straws, etc. They also have to ring in orders.
Kitchen managers have to ensure that the food is prepared well, the kitchen is set up, and the workers are doing their job correctly.
The work can be doubled during rush hours.
What is the work environment at Chipotle like?
The work environment is busy and stressful. Sometimes, even part-time employees have to work longer shifts due to several customers. However, the environment can also be friendly and helpful at times.
Does Chipotle offer breaks to employees?
Yes, there is usually a thirty-minute break where employees can eat their free meals.
To conclude, Chipotle is a great place to work for especially if an individual is interested in culinary. Also, if someone loves Mexican food, such as tacos, burritos, rice bowls, or quesadillas then Chipotle is the best place to work for and hone their skills.
The numerous benefits offered to employees are the number one reason why someone would want to work there. The several benefits such as bonuses, assistance programs, and free food are something that can attract a lot of people. For high school or college students, the part-time work hours are flexible and the payment is good enough if someone wants to earn something on their own.
Despite a lot of hard work, some people may not get raises, which is mainly because of not having good contacts with coworkers and managers. Hence, new employees are advised to maintain good relations with their coworkers and managers whilst also working hard, so that they can get a good promotion within six months.
The paid time off is another excellent bonus that is offered to Chipotle employees. Anyone who gets sick can take a leave, and inform the manager priorly and they can still get pay despite taking an off. For students, the assistance in education programs is also very good as they help them to get a good degree.
The health insurance plans, such as medical, dental, and vision are also great which are offered to management and support staff employees. To get promoted to a manager, it is necessary to work hard as a crew member first and be on good terms with everyone. The management staff has a few more benefits than the crew staff. For example – adoption assistance, parental leave, etc. Chipotle offers up to three months of leave for new moms who have given birth to or adopted a baby. Not only that, but Chipotle also pays the full cost of AD&D insurance and dependent life insurance. Overall, the benefits are pretty good.
Therefore, it’s a great place with several employee benefits and reimbursements, provided the workers are doing their job well. Also, the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is another great thing that they are doing to promote food education, and they fund and support local economies and sustainable agriculture methods.