Lots to do and no funding - Anonymous employee Panera Bread Employee Review

3.0
14 Nov 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working at the Support Center you get a few nice perks - free food in the morning, unlimited soda/coffee, etc., an employee discount, and can get free delivery for your lunch. The people are actually very wonderful - good people who are hard workers. That's pretty much where it ends.

Cons

The benefits for a company this size and this well performing are horrible and insulting. The 401k is not good (1-yr wait), short term disability is horrible (doesn't even cover the actual percent of your pay it says), and vacation is attrocious and non-negotiable. The company works you extremely hard and has very high expectations. That's great if they are willing to give you the support necessary (people, technology, resources, etc.) but they don't. The CEO (not Bill, but Ron) presents one image to the street, but interally it is very different. He is definitely a visionary and has done great things to make this company what it is, but he does not see the value in investing in his people. They also are not very open and encouraging to new people. They hire you because of your experience and what you bring to the table, but then they expect you to actually keep your mouth shut for at least a year (yet hold you accountable for work that needs to be done). Executives are known as saying it takes at least 6 months to figure out where the bathroom is to new hires.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
10 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great work environment, management was great

Cons

Tips were not consistent every week

3.0
18 Apr 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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