American fast food restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill is launching an improved suite of mental and financial wellbeing benefits for 80,000 employees in the US and Canada from 2020.
Working in association with healthcare solutions provider Health Advocate, Chipotle will be providing employees with a range of benefits, including an employee assistance programme (EAP) and personalised advocacy and assistance with paperwork, negotiations and research before, during and after dealing with medical issues. These services will be available to all US and Canada-based employees, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the organisation’s medical plan. Services will also be extended to employees’ family members.
These changes are being made as part of an effort by the employer to minimise the effects of poor mental health in the workplace.
Further enhancements to Chipotle’s benefits offering to be introduced in January 2020 include a new app-based benefits portal, through which employees can access the organisation’s healthcare benefits, an enhanced hourly preferred provider organisation (PPO) insurance plan, access to a financial counselling platform provided by Ayco, and discounted gym memberships.
Benefits already offered to boost employee financial wellbeing include degree or tuition reimbursement, for up to $5,250 (£4,076.86) per year, free English as a second language and general educational development (GED) classes for employees and their family members, and dental, vision and medical insurance.
Marissa Andrada, chief people officer at Chipotle, said: “This is just the beginning of how we’re strategically investing in the wellbeing of our employees and their families. Our vision for people is to create a culture where employees can thrive and pursue their passion, and by extending access to all levels and enriching our [EAP], we are ensuring that our employees can build mental fitness and bring their best selves to work every day.”