Worst job I have ever had - Panera Associate Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
May 2, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Was my first job. The only pros was the muscles I gained from putting away the truck deliverys twice a week, was originally asked only to fill in when the last guy quit unexpectedly. Waited for two years for them to hire a new truck guy.

Cons

I learned every position, in bakery and cafe, even learned the night bakery job incase they didn't show up, which was often, prepped for cafe in the morning and even came in at 2am twice a week for truck deliverys. Yet still I was receiving minimum wage and managers were not willing to move me up in the company, even though I was always on call to come in whenever they were short staffed. Whenever we would have auditors scheduled to come in I was always willing to do the dirty jobs, like climb on top of ovens to clean them, one time I was even asked to clean the dumpster outside. Then when I had finally had enough after three years I got another job elsewhere and gave my managers a FOUR week notice that I was leaving to make sure they could find replacements for all of my positions, but they still did not take me off the schedule or even try to train anyone new in my position. I finally had to just stop showing up after being at my new job for FOUR ADDITIONAL weeks. Those four weeks were exhausting, working 8 hours at one job, then immediately going to the other for another 8hours of manual labor. If you are social and a pretty, ditsy girl you will have no problem moving up and making more money. But if you are work based, and extremely hard working, intelligent and willing to do the jobs your managers don't want to, the company will use and abuse you. Get ready for the most physical and emotionally abusive and exhausting job of your life.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
May 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people with good morals and values. Fun work environment. Great food fresh ingredients.

Cons

Be careful not to burn yourself while baking bread. Can gain a lot of weight eating bread 😆

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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