Panera Bread Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Good starting point in management."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I liked the great management training program and seeing managers go to other high positions."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"You have to be motivated, hardworking, and willing to work all days - days and nights."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"They treated employees as work horses. There was a high turnover rate and they didn't maintain good employees."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Understand more of what the employees are looking for so you can maintain good workers."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I like staying on my feet and keeping busy at work."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be passionate about the company and products! Be eager to work there. Be personable!"

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"Company policies often get in the way of local management."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I would pay more attention to the concerns and needs of all employees."

"Good place to work part-time."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I liked the great camaraderie between coworkers, the decent pay for the job, and the very flexible hours."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"My interview was more of a hire on the spot type of thing."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I didn't like how little control I had over placement within the store."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Just keep doing what you're doing."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"Panera Bread sold a solid product with a great mission."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"A positive outlook and strong work ethic are the best allies for the position."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"The only complaint I have about Panera Bread is the rigidity of the order of operations for its franchise groups."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"The onsite managers need to have better freedom to grow their business."

"Good job for the first 3.5 years until the new JVP was introduced to the market."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I like the hours and clientele. It is a good product that is easy to endorse to guests."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Growth opprotunity in Dallas is limited by how much sucking up you are willing to do. Performance is no longer a key driver to predict future growth."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I don't like the lack of strong leadership in the Dallas market. The people working in the stores have become secondary to transaction growth."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Stop pushing the JV program as a growth potential. This is a program that used to push people to do better, but now has such limitations on it that it is not worth being a part of."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"It's demanding, stressful, and a lot of pressure. This is my first job and the pay is low. Fortunately I like to work and do it very well. It's just that sometimes I have to do everyone's job. I work mornings, set up the bakery area, wake up @ 4, get to work @ 5, stock bagels and pastries, clean up afterwards, bring sanitized buckets with clean towels, and finish 20 minutes before opening, as I like to be efficient and don't want my manager to pressure me by telling me if I'm ready to count my drawer. I'm a cashier. I've been working there for about 6 months. I work the most difficult shifts, breakfast and lunch. We've got to change coffees every hour, restock ASAP, make drinks, and slice/toast bagels, etc. All of my coworkers are also hard working and I really appreciate that, but sometimes we need more help, I think that we are missing more employees to lend a hand. The dining area is most of the time full, and most people don't clean after themselves (which they should, as Panera provides the trash bins strategically located). They make it so much harder on the people who have to make sure that everything is clean and well stocked, plus have to wash the dishes, maintain the bathrooms, and clean and wash all of the trays. Panera is too demanding, and a bit pricey even for employees. IRV's are crucial for each Panera and a bad review get's the manager in a very bad mood. They do keep track of all of the comments, and every day we need to have a high score, which is ridiculous, I believe people just want to get their food, and not to be asked to fill out a survey that takes quite some time, unless they had an unbelievable experience. The Panera rewards card is a pain. We have to register at the least 15 per day, either online or on the spot. We are constantly reminded, Don't forget IRV's and rewards cards!. Paneras are always competing for the spotlight and they will post ranking tables at the office. I just wish that cashiers would do a bit less. I'm always smiling and very courteous, but sometimes I really need a break. It's a very strict enviornment. We'll follow all the guidelines to the very letter. Even when I think that I've finished my job and have done a good job, they will always push me to do something, even if it's not my job. We had 2-3 employees quit recently and now we are short on staff. I understand they just couldn't keep up with stress and demand. The food is delicious, I don't think it's as healthy as it may seem, but it is delicious. The bread is baked every morning, although the dough is prepared days in advance somewhere else, the bakers just prep the bread dough, putting them on trays and putting them on the ovens. I like working at Panera. I just wish it wasn't as demanding. The pay is minimum and not equivalent to the labor we put in. All of the employees can agree to this."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Think twice, make sure that you are ready to work hard and not snap at your superior when they give you a long list to do. Know that there will be pressure coming from everywhere. If you know what you are getttng into, be nice, act smart and quick, smile, and say that you are great with people."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"Quick paced Seriously, have you seen us in action There are long lines all the way to the door. We try hard to give good quality service at a speedy manner. It doesn't mean that we are perfect. Cut us some slack. We do our best. Treat us nice, please. I've had people make me cry for no reason. Someone made me cry because of 1 cent. They told me that all of the generations after him were stupid and couldn't make it without a machine to tell us how to count money. I felt hurt because I was very nice to them and that's how I was treated. I even offered to get them fresh coffee while it was still brewing, you know, going the extra mile to satisfy the guest. I really dislike that policy where employees almost have to do the impossible to keep the guest satisfied. Not all guests are like that, but we will get some people who are really special. What's wrong with slicing the bagels through the bagel slicer Ok, I'll slice that bagel with a knife for you."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Great concept, but after all it's the money they are after, and well, it's proven effective because Panera has gained so much popularity, and they spend almost nothing on advertising (compared to the profits). Don't blame them. They've got a short leash on all of us."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"It used to be making the product, but now it is nothing."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Do not take a position doing baking. The turnaround is far too high and no one stays on more than a few weeks to three months anymore before they realize that it is not a good place to work. You will be lied to about everything and treated unfairly."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"It has gone downhill so far in the 3.5 years I was there. They have very poor management that does not appreciate their workers, and they are constantly putting down and taking advantage of workers. They give no bonuses or promotions unless you are a part of the bakery market manager's favorites . The good employees get mistreated and passed over while the liars and slackers move ahead."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Completely start over with management, because there is really no way of reporting issues and concerns to your superior if they are all looking out and covering for each other and only have their own interest at heart. Also, start doing exit interviews and find out why so many are quitting so often and in so many numbers at a time."

What do you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I like the smell of fresh bread and pastries in the morning."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Work hard. Don't drink the Kool-Aid and you can make a fair living. Don't even think about having a customer complaint against you."

What don't you like about working at Panera Bread?

"I don't like the inability to defend against complaints that are wrongly brought or badly thought out via the internet."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Try to listen to employees and not their preconceptions of events ."