Chipotle expands benefits to focus on employee education

Chipotle Mexican Grill is helping employees narrow the skills gap through online education and personal development tools.

The fast-food chain will offer all full-time employees access to Udemy for Business, an online education platform. Employees will have access to more than 5,000 of Udemy’s courses, which cover leadership and management, personal development, technology and wellness topics.

“It’s our responsibility to cultivate an environment where employees can continue to thrive and pursue their passions with likeminded co-workers, even in a virtual setting,” Marissa Andrada, chief diversity, inclusion and people officer at Chipotle, said in a statement.

While more than 80% of employers plan to hire or rehire in 2021, ensuring employees have the necessary skills is a challenge for HR managers. Monster found that 87% of employers are struggling to hire qualified employees due to a widening skills gap, as potential candidates have remained out of the job market for almost a year.

Read more: Monster finds employers are ready to rehire in 2021

The majority of employees say it’s difficult to find a good job or advance at their current position, according to Strada Education Network, an advocacy group focused on education and employment. Forty-six percent of those surveyed say their employer does not provide training or educational opportunities.

“There’s a widespread feeling of, ‘I’m stuck. I don’t know how to get a good job. I don’t know how to advance my career,’” says Andrew Hanson, director of research and insights for Strada. "There’s this general anxiety about not being able to move up and advance.”

In order to combat these career blocks, Chipotle has been focused on creating a “purposeful remote work experience” throughout the pandemic, Andrada says. In addition to Udemy, Chipotle has expanded their benefits to include a debt-free college degree program, mental health offerings and financial wellness programs.

Read more: Chipotle plans to recruit 15,000 new employees in one day

The chain is also expanding their employee resource groups to serve the diverse needs of their workforce. A new virtual resource group — United Network of Influencers Furthering Inclusion and Ethnic Diversity — seeks to provide career opportunities and mentorship programs for employees of color.

“Creating the kind of culture that’s inclusive, where people feel like they belong, is as equally important to the pay and benefits,” Andrada says. “Our employees are seeking real connection more than ever before and our ERGs are continuing to provide essential platforms for our employees’ personal growth.”