Started great, gets worse every day - Bakery, But Everything Really Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
13 Jan 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

%50 Discount on meals, relatively easy once you get the hang out of it, generally fun coworkers, better than not having money at all.

Cons

Where to start? Was asked to be a manager, then told I wasn't going to be. Promotions are few and far between anyway Impossible to get hours when you need them, when you don't need them you are over scheduled Some shift managers scrape by doing very little while others do too much training is just awful getting shifts covered is nearly impossible raises? what raises? unpaid breaks Way too much "Do as I say, not as I do" Almost always understaffed because managers don't help unless it is critical that they help.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
20 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Free shift meals for employees

Cons

Many high stress rush hours

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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