Chipotle Looks to Improve Benefits, Hire 19,000 Workers

POTTSTOWN PA – The Chipotle restaurant chain, which operates stores in Pottstown, Royersford, and Audubon, said Wednesday (Jan. 24, 2024) it’s looking to hire 19,000 additional employees nationwide for its busiest time of year, between March and May.

To hit that goal, it also will roll out a lengthy list of new employee benefits.

The company said more than 73% of its workforce consists of Generation Z employees. That group generally consists of “digitally native” individuals born since 1997 and 2012. During 2023 they were between the ages of 11 and 26, according to ZenDesk, a provider of customer service tools. Chipotle said it intends to appeal to workers by giving them ways to:

• Pay off student debt while saving for retirement. Chipotle said it would match a percentage of an employee’s salary with a 401(k) retirement contribution “if they make eligible student loan payments;”
• Build personal credit. The company plans to give workers “high-tech banking” services that include a Visa card, security features, faster access to paychecks, and a credit-building “optimizer;”
• Manage their financial wellness. A partnership with SoFi will give employees the ability to use its financial platform for money management education, financial outlooks, and planning tools; and
• Access mental and emotional health resources. A new employee assistance program focuses on mental and emotional well-being. It includes six free sessions with a licensed counselor or mental health coach, as well as tools, resources, and community support for legal, financial, and family matters.

Over time, 7,000 restaurants in North America

“As we push toward our long-term goal of operating 7,000 restaurants in North America, it’s crucial that we listen to and adapt to the needs of our team members, so they can grow with us,” Chipotle Chief Human Resources Officer Ilene Eskenazi said.

The benefits outlined would help “those born in the late 90s through the early 2000s (who) are experiencing notable financial challenges,” the company noted. Statistically, it added, their problems include “racking up credit card debt faster than previous generations, and being nearly twice as likely as the general population to not feel confident managing their money.”

Chipotle said it continues to emphasize employee promotion, too. Nearly 90 percent of current restaurant leadership started as crew members and progressed to management positions, it said. In 2023, Chipotle reported it promoted more than 26,000 employees.

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