One of the worst companies I've ever worked for... - Day Baker/Night Baker Panera Bread Employee Review

2.0
Feb 12, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The food is delicious and yes they do offer a nice discount.

Cons

Panera hires you in offering full time. Yet, they schedule you no more than 32 hours. The managers expect what they ask of you to be done right that second. Even if you tell them what they are asking will take a while because of one reason or another. Not because you don't want to do it. They have absolutely no sympathy for their employees. They care only about what looks good to the public eye. Nothing more. I have also ALWAYS had problems filing my taxes while working for Panera. Some management doesn't care enough to bother with calibrations. Some management doesn't care enough to even hire enough people, so your boss is having to work as a baker as well. Rather than the BTS.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Feb 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great job; I spent a long time unemployed but I wish I would’ve kept a job at Panera since high school. This easy going and well playing job would’ve been made my educational journey so much smoother. -free food while you work (save money) - friendly coworkers willing to work as a team - understand and easy going management -easy work - coworkers and managers willing to teach

Cons

- baking shift difficult since you have to come back to production afterward - management tends to get frustrated during the rush - sometimes with the rush you don’t get a break

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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