Favoritism/Low pay/Toxic environment - Associate Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
5 Dec 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are no pros. I’ve worked there for just a couple of months and it felt like years had been taken off of my life.

Cons

Pay is low for the work they demand/guilt you to do. They will walk all over you if your the nice type. Favoritism is big in this company, there was a manager who was very rude to me even when I was just doing my job as I’ve been asked to and still no one cared. Co-workers were rude to me in front of managers and they also did not care. I worked my butt off for this company, and they treated me unfairly. I was undeserving of the scars they left on my mental health. Not worth working here even as a starting job.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people management treats you well

Cons

Hours inconsistent pay is low

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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