Not the absolute worst place to work.... - Panera Bread Hourly Associate Panera Bread Employee Review

2.0
23 Jul 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible schedule 65% discount Decent rate for starters

Cons

Too many managers. They contradict and counter each other almost every day. One will tell you to do something one way and one will tell you to do the same thing another way. I've been working for nearly 7 months and they've still yet to train me completely on anything besides dining room. They started training me on prep the first month and then just stopped out of nowhere. From then on, they made excuses whenever I brought it up. They say I'm excellent and it's just too busy to train me whenever I'm there, but they somehow found time to hire four more people and train them in things they weren't experienced in. The favoritism is obvious and if you're not a favorite you WILL get stuck with doing what other workers should have done.At this point I'm looking for another job.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good customers, pay, and opps

Cons

None at this time yo

3.0
18 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

GM at this location is very on top of things, because it's the busiest Panera in Queens. Consistent hours. Shifts go by very quickly, especially in the morning.

Cons

Location is extremely busy so it gets very stressful, especially in the morning when someone is out / there is no second cashier scheduled so the single cashier in the morning has to clean the coffee counter, refill coffees, make drinks, stick bagels in the oven & serve those bagels, check and bag up RPU/delivery orders, get bakery items for barista screen, and ring up customers. It can get really intense when many people come in, which is most of the time. You will be running back and forth like crazy. Customers can be impatient, rude, demeaning, and nasty when the line gets too long. Not recommended for people who are sensitive, with high anxiety. As for Panera the company, this chain keeps making bizarre and difficult changes to the menu, all of which make employees' lives harder and harder. With every change comes strange, dismaying, and borderline impossible expectations for frontline staff that cascade down through management who cannot do much to alter the hard policies. You can tell the company is struggling greatly to keep itself relevant with the younger crowd (a solid 80% of customers are old people). The CEO and everyone making company decisions at Panera is extremely out-of-touch. EXTREMELY. With every nonsensical menu & operations adjustment, you can tell these people haven't actually worked at a food service job in like 40 years.

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