Worst Managers EVER! - Cashier Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
Aug 17, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A handful of the co-workers are real and genuine they make the job enjoyable.

Cons

Lack of leadership and communication skills among the managers Low pay for all the things they expect of you Too many trainers to train you each one has a different way of doing things and it's confusing ( this one trainer kept tugging on my arm and yelling at me.) Most of the employees are fake nice, they don't get along. Talking about inappropriate things in ear shot of customers. It's funny they say no Jerks as part of their "Culture" but the two managers where I worked were just that Jerks. Their attitude's changed when I had to change my availability, one tried to make me feel guilty about it by rubbing it in my face that my availability was the main reason I was hired. ( I guess they're mad that they couldn't work me as one of their Panera Zombie slaves). From the first day I started I was told that the schedules were made on Wednesdays and posted on Thursdays, then all of a sudden a week before I quit my doctor had scheduled me an appointment the following Friday, I called a good week ahead of time it was Tuesday but the manager I talked to said I would have to talk to the other manager because she already made the schedules for next week saying they make their schedules on Sundays. (Since when?) I wasn't aware of this but he acted like I should've been stating "If you're here you're here, if you're not you're not." and "I don't have time to look at the schedules right now." Mind you I never asked him if he could look at the schedules. (That's not all he said but I don't want this to drag on it was more rude stuff that came out of left field.) So I message the other manager and she said "Please put in request by Sunday, I'll change it for the last time." What? why was I not told that the schedules were now being made on Sunday? You're the managers it's your job to COMMUNICATE with your employees. Overall I wouldn't recommend this job unless the managers are changed

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Jul 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Everything is great here! The food, the people, the atmosphere. It’s a wholesome company.

Cons

Have only had good experiences here.

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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