Company's standards just seem to keep dwindling. When I started there a microwave was an abomination and they said we were above that kind of thing. Now we have 4 of them and all of our pasta, oatmeal, and meats are heated in them. We've taken decent, healthier items off the menu to be replaced by grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon in them. I just feel terrible charging people an arm and a leg for the crap they're getting.
They take care of their employees kind of like a neglectful pet owner. Employees get half off on food ONLY when they are AT work. End benefits. I get three weeks a year of paid vacation and that's great, but only because I've been there for 6 years. I'm one of a handful that enjoy that, and the others are kept at 34.5 hours a week so they fall just short of reaping any of that benefit.
For all the money that they bring in daily they can definitely afford to pay their associates more seeing as they make my hourly pay with a single sandwich.
The separation between management and associates is upsetting. We wear stupid, degrading hats and aprons because "hair can get in the food." Understandable until the management shows up to make good with neither. Do managers not lose hair? Is that a perk that comes with the job? It would be nice to feel like a person when you're at work.
Lastly all proceeds go straight to the top. Starbucks is paying for people's school and offering part time benefits. Why can't panera share some love? It just makes me I'll being on of the people that does have benefits to see the 95% that don't try to scrape by on a year to year basis.
You.have the resources to do better, panera. Take care of your workers.
