Ineptitude and Arrogance - Anonymous employee Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
22 Jul 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A few really smart people still work here.

Cons

The 'No Jerks' policy is a complete sham. Some of the most vile people I have ever met work here. The real problem is leadership and an abundance of the Peter Principal. Most of the people in leadership positions are very incompetent and driven by not what is best for the company, but striving to make one another look bad. Many are in their positions because a few people were hired from the outside and brought in at the wrong level. To compensate and placate egos, a lot of people were moved up who are totally unqualified. The result has been chaos,good people leaving and inferior products and services. There are no career paths since management is so completely bloated.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
29 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

very flexible and accomodating to my school schedule

Cons

was very unorgaized at times which made things difficult

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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