Panera Bread reviews

3.4

49% would recommend to a friend

(18,785 total reviews)
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Paul Carbone

40% approve of CEO

32% positive business outlook

Panera Bread has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 18,785 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Panera Bread employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.4 stars).

Reviews by job title

19K reviews
4.0
Jun 11, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I think the atmosphere overall is very upbeat and positive. One cannot always be proud to work at a food service place, but the aspect of the healthy-themed food along with not being enslaved to any sort of fryer is a very positive aspect of having a job such as this.

Cons

The compensation is rather small for the amount of work that is needed from me and my fellow associates. I also know that lower-level management does not make near as much as they deserve to make. Also, there are typically many, many employees which leads to no one employee being granted enough work time per week to make a decent living wage.

1.0
Jul 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Learned how to work quickly Learned how to work well under pressure

Cons

Avoid working at Panera if you're just starting out — it's not worth it. Management was unprofessional, disorganized, and often toxic. One experience that stands out: I came in for a shift and was immediately told I couldn't leave until I finished prepping a large catering order — by myself. No one was assigned to help, even though it was a big order that clearly required a team. I was on a set schedule, but management didn’t respect that and made it difficult to leave on time. On top of that, I was expected to prep for the next day too — again, alone. To make things worse, many of my coworkers were rude, unhelpful, and just as toxic as the management. Even though I worked hard and tried to stay professional, I constantly felt disrespected and isolated. No matter how much effort you put in, it’s clear they don’t care. This place is disorganized, unsupportive, and draining. Save yourself the stress and look elsewhere.

3.0
Apr 14, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working as a pastry baker trainer at Panera Bread is incredibly rewarding, as it allows me to share my passion for baking with eager learners and aspiring pastry professionals. I take pride in guiding individuals through hands-on training sessions, imparting valuable skills and knowledge that empower them to excel in their roles. Seeing my trainees develop their talents and thrive within the Panera Bread bakery team brings me immense joy and satisfaction.

Cons

Being a pastry baker trainer at Panera Bread can be challenging at times, especially when dealing with trainees who struggle to grasp complex baking techniques or concepts. Additionally, managing a busy bakery environment while also providing adequate training can be demanding and stressful, leading to occasional burnout. Furthermore, turnover among trainees can disrupt the training process and require constant adjustments to accommodate new team members, impacting the consistency and effectiveness of the training program.

Viewing 160 - 162 of 18,785 Reviews

Glassdoor has 19,082 Panera Bread reviews submitted anonymously by Panera Bread employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Panera Bread is right for you.