Chipotle Mexican Grill on Thursday will host its first national hiring event, aimed at recruiting 15,000 new workers to the fast-casual chain.
The new hires are needed because the chain is plotting 200 new locations this year and nearly 11,000 employees were promoted to new roles in 2020, Chipotle said Monday.
In November, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol said a “very small number of restaurants” were temporarily closed or had their hours limited due to a growing number of employees contracting the coronavirus. Niccol said he expected that labor shortage to worsen amid the surging pandemic.
Chipotle said Monday that it continues to see a "very small number" of restaurants impacted by COVID-related staffing shortages.
Prospective hires must register online to schedule an interview for Chipotle’s “Coast to Coast Career Day.” Interviews will take place at select Chipotle locations throughout the day Thursday, with masks and social distancing required. Outdoor interviews are also available, depending on the location.
More than 70% of Chipotle’s managers have risen through the ranks via internal promotions, the chain said.
With its advanced digital capabilities and order-ahead Chipotlanes, Chipotle has found success, even during a challenging year.
During the pandemic, several chains have made major hiring pushes or have beefed up their employee benefits to recruit and retain workers.
Early in the crisis, Papa John’s announced plans to hire up to 20,000 new workers, while Domino’s said it planned to hire 10,000 employees. Last month, Domino’s Pizza said it would give some employees one-time bonuses of up to $1,200. Noodles & Company added free counseling sessions, paid paternity leave, tuition assistance and more.
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