The cost of chicken meals at Chipotle has irritated patrons, and now, for a related reason, employees at the fast-food company are also irate. According to a Bloomberg exclusive, Chief Restaurant Officer Scott Boatwright sent out an email last week to Chipotle employees with the subject line "Let us Conserve Our Fan-Favorite Chicken." In it, he urged store managers and other staff members not to order their discounted or free meals, which are a benefit of working there, with chicken—the regular or al pastor version. The logic? According to Boatwright's letter, this is so that the eateries can "keep up with our guests' demand for this popular protein option."
The rule, which is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, also pertains to white-collar Chipotle employees who work in offices, where chicken will no longer be a choice for free Monday lunches. Although Boatwright made it clear that this is just a request and not a command, the workers are still not pleased with it. One employee at the sole unionized Chipotle restaurant in the US claims that it is "disrespectful, just on a personal level" in Michigan. Employees claim to have seen meals prepared with chicken thrown aside and to have received warnings about possible disciplinary action if they continued to request chicken. The shift is temporary, according to a corporate representative, and "we expect this situation to be resolved within a week."
The rule, which is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, also pertains to white-collar Chipotle employees who work in offices, where chicken will no longer be a choice for free Monday lunches. Although Boatwright made it clear that this is just a request and not a command, the workers are still not pleased with it. One employee at the sole unionized Chipotle restaurant in the US claims that it is "disrespectful, just on a personal level" in Michigan. Employees claim to have seen meals prepared with chicken thrown aside and to have received warnings about possible disciplinary action if they continued to request chicken. The shift is temporary, according to a corporate representative, and "we expect this situation to be resolved within a week."
