Good Learning Experience- Not a long-term commitment - Team Associate - Front of House Panera Bread Employee Review

3.0
7 May 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Personal pros - close to my home, reasonable pay; relative to the abysmal federal/state minimum wage, I met some people with genuinely sweet souls

Cons

Research into the company and the entities that own it in order to understand who you are working for/with. If you work with Panera you're not working with angels; it's obvious...just look up Reimann Family and you will understand the persistent atmosphere/aura of working there. The owners of this company profiteer from slave labor. I worked here from December 20 2020 to April 28 2021. It didn't take long for me to figure out/feel the greed that is a part of Panera. It is apparent in customer attitude, as well. They want fresh food, but they want it fast. I had a different impression of Panera when I applied...I didn't think it was a fast-food jezebel, but, that's what it has become. There's a definite hierarchical structure at the location where I briefly participated...Allison Park. There are employees, there are bully managers, there are tyrannical figures who make the managers sick /indoctrinate with the bully behavior... Employees here often complain about the way they are treated. I don't do that. I leave. I quit this job without professional notice because professional respect for my time was not honored here.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people management treats you well

Cons

Hours inconsistent pay is low

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All