Not a bad minimum wage job where you can be almost guaranteed to get 30+ hours per week - Associate Trainer Panera Bread Employee Review

3.0
Sep 21, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- If wanted, can work almost full time. - Very real possibility of starting as an associate and being promoted to manager in the future, I know several managers who have done this.

Cons

- Being a minimum wage job, this job won't exactly raise any eyebrows on resumes. - Many employees do not take their work seriously, either standing around doing nothing when it is slow or playing on their phones. This puts an extra burden on you that shouldn't be there. Again, another consequence of being a minimum wage job. - Maximum wage for being an associate is $10.00 per hour, pretty measly.

Explore other reviews about Panera Bread

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

very flexible and accomodating to my school schedule

Cons

was very unorgaized at times which made things difficult

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