Pros
I felt that the management and staff at Panera truly cared for me as a person and were concerned about my well being in addition to my performance as a staff member. I felt comfortable speaking directly to the general manager when I felt I needed to and had no trouble gaining assistance when I had questions. The training was terrific and very hands on. Lots of resources! Training is continuous and changes as the seasons change. Associates are given learning courses to complete online (while clocked in) to learn about new item releases and upcoming changes to the menu. The staff in my store were very much like family. We could lean on each other for support when we needed it and I felt that any time I could speak openly about anything I had an issue with.
Cons
The pay could be better for hourly associates. Beware of the insurance-- it is terrible! Sure, it's great that you can get insurance at part time but I had several hospital visits and it paid ZERO dollars of it, so be mindful of that. It is fast-paced and you will sweat during the lunch and dinner rushes--if you can't handle that, then this isn't the right place for you!