Great if you don't need money or a life. - Cashier/Barista Panera Bread Employee Review

1.0
Feb 11, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people who work here are mostly very kind and pleasant. Discounted food (although its very bad food)

Cons

Very early hours, you will always be forced to take an unpaid 30 min lunch even if you are only working a 4 h shift. The starting pay is extremely low and they won't raise you for 60 days. Its very corporate and they want you to engage with every customer who are mostly very rude and don't wish to be disturbed. They really want you to drink the bread cool aid and be passionate about all their products which besides the perhaps bread (grocery store quality) are of very low quality and grossly over priced.

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All