It's great to sell a product that I believe in. - General Manager Panera Bread Employee Review

4.0
Oct 31, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Within my franchise, there is opportunity for growth, but you have to be creative in climbing the rungs on the ladder. Selling a finished product that is created from quality ingredients and seeing my customers satisfied is a fulfilling part of my job. Benefits are good, but only for management, and free food on the shift helps as well. Panera as a whole values employees and invests time and money into proper training to create successful team members.

Cons

From management to associate positions, the pay is not proportional to the work load that is required. I believe that I could hire higher quality associates if I could pay them more, but my franchise has caps on pay with no benefits to associates, even those that work full time or are hourly managers. Upper management within my franchise does not take recommendations from store-level management, even if the practices would increase sales and transaction growth.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Jun 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people management treats you well

Cons

Hours inconsistent pay is low

3.0
Apr 18, 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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