Chipotle enhances remote work resources with online education tool

Chipotle Mexican Grill is introducing an on-demand educational platform to its remote employees.

The quick-service restaurant chain is including the Udemy for Business virtual learning/upskilling solution in its remote personal development offerings. All full-time restaurant support center employees, executive team directors, team directors, and field leaders now have access to Udemy for Business, which offers more than 5,500 courses on topics including tech, business and wellness. 

The new platform is the latest addition to Chipotle’s assortment of virtual resources for its remote staff. Other offerings include the United Network of Influencers Furthering Inclusion and Ethnic Diversity (UNIFIED), which Chipotle introduced as an employee resource group (ERG). UNIFIED is the company's first ERG to be founded in a completely virtual setting. 

UNIFIED aims to advance an equal opportunity environment that will support a future free from discrimination and inequality for career growth opportunities. Key program components include a minority mentorship program, virtual round table discussions with prominent speakers and panels, and quarterly trainings that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

In addition to UNIFIED, Chipotle has a variety of employee resource groups that are continuing to build culture and create community virtually. These include PRIDE, which aims to foster a work environment that is inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community and to attract, retain, develop and celebrate their authenticity, as well as Chipotle Serves, which seeks to enhance and engage the communities in which Chipotle operates. Chipotle Serves facilitates community improvement grants, nominated by Chipotle's restaurant teams, to help local organizations further their causes surrounding people, animals and the planet, delivering a total of $250,000 in grants last year.

Chipotle also offers Humans Uniting to Support the Ladies' Experience (HUSTLE), formed to build a workplace where women can thrive. The HUSTLE hosts a monthly virtual book club for all members.

Chipotle Wellness aims to foster an environment that supports Chipotle employees' mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. To begin the year, Chipotle Wellness has increased visibility into Chipotle's mental health and fitness benefits, including access to omnichannel healthcare assistance platform HealthAdvocate and a library of digital workout videos and live or on-demand online workout sessions.

The Chipotle Culture Committee serves to create spaces where everyone is encouraged to express their passions and curate new connections.

Chipotle Mexican Grill had over 2,750 restaurants as of Dec. 31, 2020, in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants.