A very good first job - Shift Manager Panera Bread Employee Review

3.0
31 Mar 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Great people that work there. Very much a "family" unit - Loyal nice customers - You can have fun at your job - Not a bad uniform - Can be a satisfying job at times - Can have a good chance of advancement if you work hard and really want it - Chance to learn a lot about a company if you try

Cons

- Very low pay - Rarely any raises - Very stressful during rushes - Managers can't handle stress (creates a bad example and makes them less respected by associates) - Managers talk badly about associates to fellow associates - When you ask off for a day you have to work anyways - Unpaid brakes that can be rushed if it's busy - Rarely a thanks for a good job - Never get the hours you request - Low chance of holidays off - Chance of pay freeze - Bad gossip

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
10 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great work environment, management was great

Cons

Tips were not consistent every week

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.

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