Worst management staff ever - Associate Trainer Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
May 15, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Free Beverages during a shift. Pretty good discount. Some good co-workers to build lasting friendships with.

Cons

Incompetent, rude, lazy managers Schedule was never posted on time. Extremely poor scheduling. Never enough associates scheduled to work a shift, yet tons of associates hired. Very poor pay. Poor growth oprotunity. Horribly inconsitant hours. Called into work every scheduled day off. Too many young and lazy associates hired. Too many managers. You never get any requested days off even if it's for an emergency. Work people when they are injured, or ill. Management takes the job WAAAAAAY too seriously. ( It's a sandwich joint for crying out loud.) Bread bashes/ meetings every two weeks. ( Hard to attend a mandatory meeting if you have a second job, or family who needs your help.)

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Feb 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

General manager is kind and helpful

Cons

Rude customers, drive thru is stressful

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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