Worked us to death - Sales Associate Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
Dec 28, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

60% discount on meals was nice. Company donates to charity and as a whole, seemed to care. Comfortable environment- was definatley the elite in fast food but such extravagance carries a heavy price on the workers.

Cons

Management is very unprofessional and was never easy to negotiate hours with. After being stung by hornets, my GM gave me a pill and told me to get back to work. I would go home at 1 A.M. due to the GM's sudden urge to have an inspection at 11 P.M. in the morning and have me scrub the toilets after I am already scheduled for opening the next morning. Shitty pay and favoritism is obvious. Management doesn't care if you stay or go and has no respect for the employee at all. You never know when you are working. Honestly the worst job i've ever had and before they hired me, I had a job working in a ditch!

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good customers, pay, and opps

Cons

None at this time yo

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All