If you need a first job or perhaps just a good part-time job, Panera Bread is always a good choice. - Sales Associate Panera Bread Employee Review

4.0
Oct 5, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Worked very well with school schedules and days off, made sure you were commended appropriately for your efforts, great employee discount, gave you as many hours as your asked for, everything was clear, cut, and dry - nothing to overthink or worry that you're doing wrong, Bread Bashes were a lot of fun, managers try to make it a fun environment for everyone.

Cons

Managers were sometimes too lax, customers can be unruly, irritable, and extremely arrogant and attitudinal (I've only noticed this at Panera, no other places), the management system tend to use veteran employees as free trainers, which wasn't very fair to me, only a 10 cent increase after a year, was also promised a small pay increase for each new "module" I was trained in. I was trained in almost every module, and still saw no pay increases.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Jun 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people management treats you well

Cons

Hours inconsistent pay is low

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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