I was an employee for Chipotle for over three years starting as a summer job from college leading up to a General Manager. I loved the company and understood frustration from some but it is all politics and fortunately I was a likeable hardworking guy that my crew rallied around to become a leader. I took over as the youngest GM for the company at the age of twenty- purchasing cases of alcohol and liquor before I could purchase a beer for myself but thats beside my point. I worked hard and labored over 60+ hours a week to do something that I loved and enjoyed. Over time you lose people for whatever reason- our location was about an hour away from 3 major state universities so often the upbeat energetic young people I would hire and develop would leave and transfer to other stores, and in time my staff weakened.. it takes time to train and for any of you who have worked for this company understand that it is in fact a lot of work. The way steve ells has set up the company is quite smart in the sense that he maximizes labor by scarying the workers into being able to be fired at any moment.. one bad shift, one bad week... anyways back to the reason I lft CMG... I worked hard and developed a new hire and really connected with all employees but knew this guy needed an opportunity. So I presented him with the idea of joining me for management.. After 6 months of training and MDJs he was promoted to KM.. it was here that I started to see signs that he couldnt keep control of the crew. When I was present things were great, but when I left my restaurant, which felt great at times as I was the only salary manager in my entire time as a GM- the atmosphere would change.. After many performance discussions and guiding him he improved and I felt like a wall had been taken down, I finally had an Apprentice-caliber person... until after his promotion to SM- Something I was not ready for but because he went over my head to my area manager and my area manager took his word over mine- I was forced to promote him and give him a chance.. was he capable? absolutely.. but would he try 100% i had severe doubts... Our sales had more than doubled in the year and half that I had been at the helm and with that our food orders suffered a few minor draw backs (as you train and develop constantly and if one person isnt getting it quick enough then you attempt with someone else in hopes of driving everyone else but in time it beats up a crew and lowers morale.) This final instance was simply over plastic forks... they are a necessity and we werent going to have enough to make it through the day, so when I received a call at 8am on my day off I asked that this manager take Petty Cash to local store to purchase enough forks for the day.. not a big deal as I had needed to do this on a handful of occasions.. His response was simply to say okay and hang up... while I found this rude- I let it go and understood that he was probably just in a hurry... until 10:30 hit.. Our stores open at 11 and I received a text saying "you better get into the store because myself and the prep guy just left- fuck this place" Pissed but not letting my anger get the best of me- I went in and worked the shift on my day off.. not wanting to bother my Area Manager with this SMs stupidity I waited til later in the day to call him as store drama seemed less than store success in my eyes.. when I finally spoke to my AM was told that I "dropped the ball" as my AM liked the guy that he saw maybe once or twice a month and he would like to keep him on board as he saw potential... I had enough.. I sat at a meeting with my AM and this disgrace of a manager the next day and told my AM that if he was given his job back after walking out on a shift and telling all of "his" employees to fuck off that I would be leaving the company.. He got his job back and I put in my two weeks.. which turned into three weeks because my AM begged me to stay a little longer. After I left the job I loved because of ONE person that was a buddy-buddy BullSh*tter my Area Manager was demoted literally a week after I left (he now runs a single restaurant as a GM instead of 11 as a AM) and this other manager walked out on the new GM a month later- like I warned my then AM that he would... I left the company on "good terms" and can return when I would like but I have watched the company change so much that I am absolutely terrified for its future direction.. I have found a job that I truly love and that makes less money but I can have a social life again.... this company is growing too fast and is becoming money hungry... they are weakening what once was a great brand name... Sincerely A concerned former GM