I enjoyed working at Panera - Associate Trainer Panera Bread Employee Review

5.0
May 24, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

We had a great staff at Panera. It was a lot of fun and it was always clear what was expected of you. They also offered a lot of opportunity to be promoted. Sometimes even offering opportunities to except additional responsibilities without the pay raise. Now, I know that sounds stupid but it was an opportunity to stick out more then the other members of your crew. Not to mention to the district managers.

Cons

Again, I really enjoyed working for Panera but there were some downsides. Finding coverage last minute was difficult. If you woke up in the morning sick chances were no one was going to be available to cover your shift leaving the rest of the staff to pick up your slack. Team work was very important, and if you had a lousy team, you had a lousy job.

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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