So Far.... - Prep/Line Cook Panera Bread Employee Review

4.0
11 June 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Everyone I work with has the same goal and works hard to achieve excellence every time a person comes to Panera. I have yet to meet anyone who dislikes the job and so overall the atmosphere is energetic and positive. The position itself is not difficult, they take all of the thinking out of the position.

Cons

Sometimes it can feel very repetitive and almost too easy. So for people who want their job to challenge them mentally this is not the job. The online training is quite possibly the worst set up I have ever seen. They give no information about what they will be testing you on in the online course and you must pass with a 100% on the test at the end of the module. So it is honestly just a guessing game the first time you go through the tests. They make you do them till you have passed, so it is just learning how to memorize 25 question answers and many of them are just protocol questions. There is very little learning about how to do your job in the online modules and that is the first thing you do before you even step foot on the floor to begin actually learning how to do the job.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
29 June 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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