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Location, Management, and Team Make or Break Experience - Counter Help Panda Express Employee Review

2.0
Jun 10, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The work itself is not bad. It pays better than other fast food chains. Free food when you work. As a whole, it is a solid company. Their system works and is consistent. It’s only my observation, but they seem to prefer promoting women , so that nice that they provide women a really great opportunity to work up the ranks and make more money. If you stick around, the money is good. That’s how they trap you in. But! If you can shout WELCOME TO PANDA the second a guest walks through the door, ask them if they want any samples, scoop 1 serving motion of food per order, offer Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls or Rangoons, something to drink, any sauces, ask for a donation to their Tax Deductible Panda Cares Organization, (not forgetting to scream Thank You when they roll over and give you a donation) and then thank them for their business, you can do this job. It’s pretty easy , even if it’s physical.

Cons

I did not enjoy working for Panda, but I think my experience mostly depended on my location. I can’t speak for all of them, only mine. My Team did not pitch in or help out, but were quick to give me more tasks to do while I was already working on one.. mind you, this is while they were standing at the Manager Station chatting with my GM. This happened regularly. We had a very busy location and were never staffed enough. And then we’d get chewed out because the Drive Thru time was too long... but there was only one person running the drive thru and one person running the counter, both with long lines. I was scheduled 10 and 12 hour shifts constantly, sometimes 6 days in a row, and only got two 10 minute breaks and one 30 minute break on all of those double shifts. I worked with a guy who would joke about wanting to have sex with my roommate who had come through one time. I wouldn't go to HR about it though because I had heard another employee had gone to our HR guy who was buddies with the person who had sexually harassed my coworker, and they had a confrontation that was anything but Non Retaliation.. I didn’t even want to try doing anything about it. Favoritism runs rampant. I was constantly pressured to try and promote, but to get the promotion, took so much preparation, but there was never enough time to work on it because I was always put on a register and was stuck in the same spot for hours at a time. Onto other matters now.. you’re going to clean more than you were told in your interview. You will clean and clean and clean and it will never be good enough. Deep cleaning type work. It’s hard labor and I was sore and tired constantly for the first 3 months , but built up resistance and now I’m strong like an ox. I was always working from 11-close so I never had time to do things or get errands done. My life turned into Panda Express and I didnt like that so I left.

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Panda Express Response
6y
At Panda, we are an organization focused on continuous learning and improvement. Your feedback gives us valuable insight into how we can elevate our associate work experiences. We are a workplace committed to collaborative and supportive work environments, and am sorry to hear that your experience missed the mark. If you would like, you may share your experience in further detail via our “My Voice Matters” confidential hotline: 626-799-9898 x6053. We do not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace in any manner, and look forward to hearing from you.

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5.0
Feb 16, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of development and investment in managers and team. A lot of personal development and financial opportunity available.

Cons

Work Life Balance is something you have to strive for but we have recognized need for growth in this area and we are striving to make a difference!

3
3.0
Nov 19, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun coworkers, easy, no other pros

Cons

Management changes a lot sometimes

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