“I feel very strongly that I work for a company that loves its employees and takes care of us,” says Angelica, from Wichita Falls, Texas. “I love coming to work. It’s not one of those jobs that you wake up dreading to come in. No, I’m ready to go to work because I work with great people.”
Angelica works for Chipotle, a company that is becoming increasingly renowned for its passion for its employees and their development, promotion, and enrichment. She is one of six current employees of the company that we talked to about their experience of being a General Manager at Chipotle.
“Chipotle goes above and beyond what other similar companies offer,” says Julian, GM of the Mays Landing, New Jersey location.
“It is a performance-based company. If you’re doing the right things, if you’re using the tools they’ve given you to succeed, and you yield results, then that’s not going to go unnoticed,” says Isaac from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
From talking to these enthusiastic people, it becomes clear very quickly that Chipotle’s commitment to employee advancement is a lot more than lip service. This is a company that is driven by something deeper.
“The company always looks to promote from within, and that is something that they’ve always been big on,” says Angelica. In fact, about 80% of Chipotle’s internal managers worked their way up from a crew-level role.
“They have really great tools to help you to move up and help you with your business skills and with your people skills,” Maria of Kansas City, MO says.
“I was working for another chain restaurant for 12 years, and it was taking me a long time to actually progress within the company. And when Chipotle came looking for someone like me to join, I made the switch. And that was the best decision I made,” Jorge from Durham, North Carolina says.
“I started on tortillas, which I did for almost two months,” says Marina. “We opened the store in the morning, it was a blast. And after that it just so happened that the opportunity for kitchen management popped up. I took it. And the opportunities for advancement kept coming,” says Marina from the McAllen, Texas Chipotle.
“I started working here as a crew member, and then I started moving up: kitchen manager, then service manager, and then my general manager gave me the opportunity to become an apprentice,” says Maria. “And after that, they gave me the opportunity to run my own store.”
“Our development is the number one priority here. Making us better, pushing us to do better. I think of the training I’ve received, the advancement I’ve received, and everything I’ve learned,” says Marina. “And there’s so much more. I actually just signed up for a Master’s program that Chipotle is going to help pay for.”
Benefits offered to a Chipotle GM are substantial in terms of both employee development and work/life balance. Along with employee assistance programs, crew bonuses, tuition reimbursement, a 401(k) + match, and a benefits concierge service, the company offers GMs 10 paid vacation days a year. That’s a true rarity in this industry.
“They have a lot of benefits for employees, especially those that are in school. In addition to that, this company is very flexible with scheduling, which has allowed me to maintain full-time status throughout my entire college career,” says Julian.
“Seven months ago we had a baby, and I was able to spend a whole month at home and not worry about my work. Family is important here,” says Jorge.
“GMs are allotted extra time off. We’re given vacation time. We’re given sick time. We have holiday pay,” says Angelica.
These testimonials speak of a company that has an uncommonly deep interest and affection for its employees.
“I love talking about this company because it means a whole lot to me,” Isaac says.
“I don’t know where I’d be financially mentally emotionally or any of that without being here. This company has in a way built my personality. I was just a shy little kid back in my senior year of high school, and I have outgrown all of that. I’m not sure where I’d be today if it wasn’t for this company, and what I’ve learned throughout my career,” says Julian.
“Before Chipotle, I didn’t realize that there was another gear I could go into. When I see other people around me making that same realization about themselves, that’s what gets me going,” Isaac says. “We are driven by something that’s a lot deeper than just mashing avocados and rolling up burritos. It has a lot more as a lot to do with the person on your left and the person on your right. That’s my favorite thing about Chipotle, and that’s why I continue to work here.”
Those looking for a company that will offer them great advancement opportunities, great benefits, and even greater people need look no further than Chipotle.
