Pros
Very kind managers and staff. Everyone does their job for the most part and that eases the load at times. Also a very clean location and there is constant upkeep on cleaning. The managers are usually able to work with you on scheduling also with school and commitments you may have, but I had a little trouble with this when I worked there as they were very short-staffed and someone went on vacation right as I asked to have a certain day off so I couldn't (would have been one person staffed on that shift If i did). Good pay for a fast food job! My assistant manager was making $21 and hour and you can get that yourself in like 6 months or less even. Not horrible. Though for me wasn't worth the stress and I was in school, for some locations with more staff could be a different story. Really good food and you get free meals. Though the meal breaks are super short so you gotta scarf stuff down (like 10minutes to eat and this often made me feel so sick throughout shifts, so limit portions). The food is genuinely pretty fresh and I really respect that about Panda Express.
Cons
For many this job is their career, so many took it WAY too seriously in my opinion and literally lived there working like 50+ hours. It's not just normalized but encouraged. Be clear on your hours and when you want to work or it will get chosen for you. Very high pressure because so many take it so seriously. Just to get a dollar fifty raise with a promotion I had to work rigorously to even prove I can get it. Was not worth the stress for me since I just needed money before I started school again. Long shifts will be scheduled unless you clarify you don't want to work them. My first full week I was scheduled like 5 10-hour shifts in a week and it was treated as normal. I still have heart problems from being overworked and having to live on caffeine to have the energy to continue. When I went slower and was tired, I was pulled aside and asked if everything okay because I didn't have the "enthusiasm"... Very over-heated when I worked in the summer. I was dying all the time and having to stand in the cooler just to cool down (though I had to sneak those because working constantly was the expectation.) Bathroom breaks are very hard to get when staff is short. This doesn't help because it is super hot and I drank a lot and had to go a bit because of it. Literally rushes were miserable, hot, and I had to go most the time and usually nobody could be spared to let me leave. When I mentioned this to my manager when asked why I was going slower (I had to pee bro), I was told to go beforehand. Like....I can't just control that stuff. Working past when you are off. I was told to do last-minute things shortly before the end of my shift and this always resulted in me being past when I was off. Not to mention when there is a rush this happens too and you get looked at like a jerk because you leave when you are scheduled off. I was late for my church many times because of this and I won't let it happen again in another work environment. When you are off, leave. Don't give in with this ever or you will be taken advantage off and you will always find yourself leaving later than you are scheduled off.
