With its focus on serving fresh, high-quality ingredients, Chipotle has become one of the most popular fast casual restaurant chains in recent years. However, like any food service job, working at Chipotle has its pros and cons. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the key factors to consider when weighing whether a job at Chipotle is worth it.
Pay and benefits
One of the most important considerations for any job is the pay and benefits. Here’s an overview of what Chipotle employees can expect in terms of compensation:
- Pay: Chipotle crew members typically start between $10-$15 per hour, depending on location. There are opportunities for pay raises based on performance and tenure. Shift managers usually make $13-$18 per hour.
- Bonuses: Chipotle offers performance-based crew bonuses twice per year. These can range from $100-$400 for good performers. Managers also have opportunities for quarterly bonuses.
- Benefits: All employees get a free Chipotle meal per shift and discounts on food. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits like paid time off, dental/vision insurance, 401(k) plan, etc.
Compared to other fast food chains, Chipotle offers competitive pay and good benefits even for entry-level roles. The bonus opportunities are a nice perk as well. However, wages still start low at under $15 per hour, so it may not be a livable wage in some high cost-of-living areas.
Work environment
The work environment and culture of a company also impact job satisfaction. Here are some key factors to know about Chipotle’s work environment:
- Fast-paced: Chipotle restaurants tend to be very busy, especially during peak lunch and dinner hours. Employees need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Short staffed: Many Chipotle locations are understaffed due to high turnover rates. This can lead to employees feeling overworked and stressed.
- Strict standards: Chipotle has very high standards for food quality and cleanliness. Employees are expected to follow many rigid procedures.
- Opportunities to advance: Hard workers can potentially move up from crew to management positions within about 1-2 years.
The fast-paced setting and strict standards can make the work tiring and stressful at times. However, the right employees may appreciate the active, busy environment and potential to take on more responsibility quickly.
Perks
Chipotle also offers some nice perks and programs that improve the employee experience:
- Free food: Employees get one free Chipotle meal per shift, which is a major perk.
- Tuition reimbursement: After 120 days, employees are eligible for up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement for pursuing degrees.
- Employee assistance program: Access to free counseling and financial assistance resources.
- Paid breaks: Chipotle provides paid breaks for meals and rest, unlike some fast food chains.
- Clean, modern environment: Chipotle restaurants tend to be nicely designed and maintained.
The free food, tuition reimbursement, and paid breaks help offset some of the challenges of the job. The clean stores and good training programs also contribute to a more positive work experience compared to other quick service restaurants.
Schedule flexibility
A flexible schedule is important for many hourly restaurant workers. Here is how scheduling typically works at Chipotle:
- Variable hours: Most employees start part-time with 20-30 hours per week. Hours vary week-to-week based on store needs.
- Access to schedules: Chipotle uses an app-based program to manage schedules. Employees can view schedules and request time off.
- Shift times: Shifts are typically 8 hours and include early mornings, late nights, weekends, etc. Closing shifts end around 11 pm.
- Requesting time off: Chipotle allows time off requests but does not always guarantee them.
While hours vary based on business needs, Chipotle’s scheduling app and process is more transparent than some restaurant chains. However, the inconsistent hours and late closing times can make it hard to plan other responsibilities.
Opportunities for advancement
For employees seeking career growth, Chipotle offers some great opportunities to move up. Here are potential pathways for advancement at Chipotle:
- Crew to manager: Hard working crew can advance to a general manager or restaurateur within 1-2 years.
- Restaurateur to corporate: Restaurateurs may be able to move up to field leader or corporate positions.
- Tuition reimbursement: Extra training helps qualify for advancement to management roles.
- Competitive wages: Manager wages start around $50k-$60k per year, more with bonuses.
The ability to gain substantial managerial skills and experience in a short timeframe is a major benefit of working at Chipotle. The combination of training programs and tuition reimbursement provides helpful support. Competitive salaries for managers also make the advancement very rewarding.
Typical duties and responsibilities
To get a sense for the day-to-day work at Chipotle, here are some of the core duties for different roles:
Crew member
- Take customer orders and prepare food
- Stock ingredients and keep food and prep areas clean
- Follow recipes and portion standards
- Operate cash register and collect payments
- Clean dining room, bathrooms, floors
- Close the restaurant by cleaning, organizing supplies
Kitchen manager
- Order ingredients and track inventory
- Schedule staff and assign duties
- Train new hires and oversee crew
- Make sure recipes, quality standards, and safety procedures are followed
- Provide excellent customer service when needed
- Resolve issues with food, service, or equipment malfunctions
Service manager
- Provide excellent customer service and resolve issues
- Enforce cleanliness and sanitation practices
- Coordinate breaks and provide shift coverage as needed
- Manage online orders and meal deliveries
- Oversee customer dining area environment
- Identify ways to improve operations and increase efficiency
Crew members should expect a very active job with various cleaning, food prep, customer service, and cash handling duties. Managers have broader responsibilities for overseeing operations, staff, and customer satisfaction.
Job satisfaction and reviews
To gauge how employees really feel about working at Chipotle, here are some data points on job satisfaction and employee reviews:
- Average rating on Indeed: 3.5 stars out of 5 based on over 15,000 reviews
- 63% of reviews on Indeed are positive
- Most common pros cited: free food, cool coworkers, fast pace, good training
- Most common cons cited: understaffing, high stress during peak times, inconsistent hours
- 61% of Glassdoor reviewers recommend working at Chipotle to a friend
- Average rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 on Glassdoor
Overall, employees seem fairly satisfied with Chipotle as an entry-level hourly job, although the high-pressure environment during rush times is a common complaint. Perks like free food and supportive coworkers are major pros consistently mentioned.
Potential downsides
While Chipotle offers some nice benefits, there are also some potential downsides to weigh:
- Low starting pay of $10-$15 per hour
- Minimal initial scheduling control for crew members
- High stress and fast pace during peak hours
- High turnover means understaffing is common
- Repetitive physical workload including frequent cleaning
- Strict corporate policies and standards to follow
The low pay, limited flexibility, high stress, and tiring repetitive tasks lead to high turnover. The rigid corporate rules and intense focus on efficiency also contribute to a challenging work environment at times.
Conclusion
Working at Chipotle can be a good option for someone seeking an entry-level job with opportunities for quick advancement. However, employees need to be comfortable with fast-paced, demanding environments and embrace Chipotle’s culture of quality standards and efficiency. The pros like free food, cool coworkers, and growth opportunities tend to offset the challenging aspects of the work itself. Overall, a Chipotle job is likely worth it for people who enjoy active, social roles and want to gain customer service and managerial skills.