Pros
Fast-paced environment that exposes you to many aspects of store operations Hands-on experience with scheduling, payroll, and high-volume service Some strong coworkers at the store level who do their best under difficult conditions
Cons
Chronic understaffing, with managers and shift leads frequently running stores alone Lack of consistent breaks, even during long or physically demanding shifts High manager turnover, leading to shift leads and managers-in-training absorbing responsibilities far beyond their role and compensation Expectations to simultaneously run the front counter, bake product, manage all delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, online orders), answer phones, troubleshoot technology issues, and handle customer escalations—often without support Escalated concerns to upper management frequently go unanswered until there is a crisis Compensation is inconsistent and often uncompetitive, with large pay disparities between managers performing similar work A “one-size-fits-all” operational and compensation approach is applied across stores regardless of location, volume, or local demographics Continued focus on opening new locations while existing stores remain under-resourced Ongoing cuts to labor and resources while increased workload is framed as efficiency or growth