it was... alright. - Associate/Dishwasher Panera Bread Employee Review

2.0
29 July 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Many of my previous co-workers actually became friends. Even a manager wanted to hang out after work sometimes. Plus free bread and pastries at the end of the day was awesome. Never had to buy bread!

Cons

The work was HARD. incredibly fast paced and many, many expectations. Certain management would sit in the office all day and be on the computer, while different managers (on different days) would actually be on the floor helping the associates get their work done quickly. They played favorites big time. Corporate was shoving a customer survey down our throats to get a specific customer satisfaction number up (that barely applied to how people ACTUALLY felt in the restaurant), and they made us push this survey so hard at customers that we actually had bad reviews on this survey stating they were annoyed with how they were constantly reminded to fill out this survey! A couple coworkers actually got fired because of two bad reviews, of which neither of the situations they had control of. Also hour were rewarded or cut depending on how many surveys you brought in, a totally ridiculous way of giving hours! Certain people could get away with some things while others couldn't (like facial piercings), Managers would be on their phone on the clock, then turn around and yell because you were on your phone at any given time. The list goes on and on. Overall it was a negative experience for me.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
3 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible work schedule & great learning opportunities in customer service

Cons

None! I really enjoyed this job.

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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