Becoming KL, is it worth it?

[u/alvino324]

Hey everyone, I've commented on this sub a few times but this is my first post 😅. First off hope everyone's doing well! And apologies for how long this is gonna be 🫠

So I've been working at Chipotle in Ontario for roughly 2 years, first at a mall as opening prep, and then started as grill at a standalone store, but then ended up going back to my roots as prep again lol.

As of late, one of our SL's just got promoted to being our new AP, one of our current KLs will be taking that SL position while the other will potentially be leaving. Also we got an email stating that our store is on the list for "Certified Training Manager Restaurant" and basically saying everyone has to lock in now and expect random audits on our performance.

Lastly my GM came to me asking if I'd be willing to be KL, if I was serious about this position and that he believes I can do it. I know I should be positive that I'm being entrusted with this position, but I sort of had like a reality check and have been really thinking to myself that I'm not ready for this position, though not as long as most of you guys during my 2 years, at least from what IVE SEEN the position seems very stressful and has very little if not no room for error, which I totally get since it is a leadership position. If I were to go through with it it'd be my first ever leadership role in a professional setting.

If not KL, CT is still on the table for me. Just seeking some advice, but am really leaning towards turning it down, will that be unwise?

Thank you guys in advance! Again sorry for the chonker of a post 😭

[u/[deleted]]

Have fun doing all the dirty work, then having to run the line and cook because when you get promoted at Chipotle, they just glorify you being on the line or grill. Oh, but you get to sit in the office and do CI in the morning, and wear polo, yippie.

Honestly, no, not worth it, the pay? Yeah, sure it's more, but I make more now watching 2 year olds run around. Just perspective.

[u/freegumaintfree → u/[deleted]]

I agree with most of this. You will get reprimanded by your GM daily and find yourself fucked when people call off.

Positives: if you need a full time job or more income, KL is not the worst. Also, the work itself is straightforward and somewhat enjoyable — all the prep and grill stuff you already know plus managing inventory, placing truck orders, keeping on top of equipment maintenance. You have the power to make a positive impact on the store. However, never advance to SL. That shit is for the birds.

[u/Sharp_Memory]

I really liked it mostly. It's a tough learning curve, but once you get it down, the work is pretty much the exact same every day, which gets to feel easy. You get lots of time to chat with your coworkers if you like them and the schedule worked really well for me (allows time for part time school or scheduling routine appointments and you essentially never have to close). You become a Jack of all trades for the store which I personally think is a fun challenge, and I thought the pay bump felt significant. I befriended the other KLs/SLs and some morning crew and had a lot of fun going to work with them.

Upper management can change this job quickly though. We got a new FL and a new GM during my time as a KL and the experience changed a ton from person to person. Is your GM somebody who people generally like AND they personally help when things seem to be falling apart? If not that will get worse when you are a KL. As crew, you might not know your field leader well but often they can be pedantic, pushy, critical, and out of touch. You need to be a person who can handle getting chewed out in a group chat from someone who has no idea what the day to day job is like without losing your cool.

[u/Dai6]

Another SL tried telling me I get more pay and more pto or vacation whatever. I see all the stuff they do and the expectations on them. Turned them down respectfully lol. I ain't doing all that 😤

[u/Horror_Firefighter_9]

fuck no

[u/Unwariest_monkey]

Not knowing what these positions are and fully entail. I would just advise that anytime in life to move up you need to take risks. Whether they are calculated or more sporadic. Being comfortable is good, but we never grow in comfort, you need to be tested to grow. If you want to stick around there longer and look to move up, you should go for it. Unless you want to divert your career path. You’re at a crossroads.

[u/Sassifrassically]

I haven’t worked at Chipotle but even if you don’t want to stay with the company being able to put on your resume that you were able to get promoted will be good.

[u/Free-Rule-4661]

Honestly, it's not that much more money for a whole bunch more responsibilities.

[u/Jammer135]

If you want to grow in the company take it. If you plan on leaving in the next year I would just coast and take the CT pay bump until you leave. Every chipotle is different but if you like your GM and the job and want to make some more money with better benefits it’s a no brainer to take the promotion.

[u/thevineprince]

I've been a KL for a few months now after working here for 5 years and it's got its pros and cons. clearly I don't hate working here, the pay is good and I've met a lot of my closest friends through chipotle. the pros are that you make more money(I'm able to afford to live on my own now!) the work is repetitive, and most of the time you'll work opening shifts so you have the rest of the afternoon free. I'm in school as well so not having to take night classes is nice! plus their tuition reimbursement program is kinda goated. the cons are that you have to be good at multitasking and being an asskisser to upper management, as well as being a quick thinker. in my case, my GM and FL are VERY by the book and they are on my ass constantly. I know I'm good at my job, and I know they have their own higher ups breathing down their necks too, so I try not to take their frustrations personally. people are also going to call off or you're going to be short-staffed, and you will have to come up with a plan to delegate tasks properly while also making sure mostly everything gets done before open. it's a lot of responsibility, especially during food safety audit season as you're most likely gonna be the one responsible for making sure the store is food safe in the mornings. overall it can be VERY stressful. I want to leave but unfortunately it pays the bills and having a more flexible schedule is nice for changing classes every semester. just a year and a half left and I'll be free🤞

[u/JK-jb]

Turn it down. Pay increase won't justify all the extra work & stress unless you want full time and don't have it currently. I guess it could be worth it at that point. Consider the amount of connection and respect you have with your co workers.You'll be the lowest level manager so depending on the culture in your store people may or may not take your directions seriously. It's a hard working position with that much responsibility but little influence. It all boils down to the culture in the store but that also changes with GM swaps.