baker

barista

general manager

assistant general manager

shift manager

Fresh-Baguette

Fresh Baguette Alexandria location is by far the most disorganized and toxic place I’ve ever worked. There is no real training. New employees are thrown into roles with little guidance, then criticized for not knowing what to do. Because of this, new hires don’t know how to close, and the girls who had been there longer didn’t like to close and that left me stuck with closing shifts almost all the time, even though I repeatedly asked for mornings for months and rarely ever got them.

The scheduling is pretty unfair and clearly plays favorites. Some employees consistently get weekends off while others are forced to work every single weekend. Management ignores this imbalance, which only adds to the toxic environment.

On top of that, the workplace culture is miserable. Many of the employees have negative, passive aggressive attitudes, which makes the job even more draining. There’s no real sense of teamwork or support just stress, complaints, and frustration.

The workload is heavy, the communication is poor, and the culture overall is toxic. The only positive is that tips can make the pay decent, but it’s nowhere near worth the stress, negativity, and unfair treatment that come with working here.  I highly suggest looking literally anywhere else for employment.


This company severely lacks structure, organization, communication and empathy. They are aware of this yet refuse to take the steps necessary to change for the better. Unfortunately it’s very clear the owners and upper management value making more money than the well-being, happiness and success of their employees. 

I was able to learn a great deal about management and leadership but that was simply through having to figure it out myself as there was little to no training. I enjoyed my time working here because of the people working alongside me and the customers, everything else was a constant uphill battle.

I recommend choosing a company more focused on creating a healthy work environment for everyone. Be prepared to work for a company who’s owner voices hatred for their employees. Employees who’s work/life balance is annihilated due to the workload, pressure and lack of support. There is no valid justification for hate when the company’s core values include respect, integrity, and team player. 

Very unfortunate to see how far this company has strayed from its roots. 

A typical day at work:
Chaotic and exhausting, constant pressure with little to no support. No real balance between life and work, it feels never-ending.

What I believe I learned:
How to survive on minimal resources, push through stress, and fight to get the basics done. Not much in terms of real professional growth.

Management:
Disconnected and reactive instead of proactive. If something breaks, you’re left battling for weeks to get it fixed. Support is rare.

Workplace culture:
Toxic and draining. High turnover, low morale, and it feels more like survival mode than a team environment.

The hardest part of the job:
Lack of work-life balance. You’re expected to give everything while receiving very little in return. Burnout comes fast.

The most enjoyable part of the job:
Honestly, the rare moments when the team pulls together despite everything , but those are few and far between.

Understaffed, and under paid. If you work at Cleveland Park you’re walking into a dumpster fire. Every employee who was there for advancement has left, and as a result the culture has completely nosedived. What was a clean polished environment is now dirty and mostly empty. Don’t expect any consistency as the inventory is never accurately stocked. A living embodiment of customer dissatisfaction and capitalism.

What is the best part of working at the company?
It's not good to work there. They exploit and abuse you.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
working hours, excessive abuse by supervisors and the fact that they are racist

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
working under pressure in a very stressful environment

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I sometimes worked 7 days, the excuse was that they needed me 24/7

such a wonderful place to work at! A variety of cultures and management was good. Wonderful vibe throughout the shop and amazing food! Location was great and work schedules were flexible.

Great atmosphere. Great, supportive staff with good energy. The company is growing and there are opportunities to evolve if you are a good team player.

Two years working as retail manager for Fresh Baguette, they do not appreciate their employees. Upper management lacks clear communication and does not uphold the company's values.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The people 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Because they do mass production for their locations and other businesses, the work load would sometimes become overwhelming.

There is no federal mandate requiring them either. Because of this, paid and unpaid breaks are handled at the discretion of individual employers. Some have instituted their own break policies, and some provide for meal breaks in their employment contracts.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Baker 99 salaries reported	$19.81 per hour
Barista 37 salaries reported	$20.04 per hour
General manager 111 salaries reported	$86,937 per year
Assistant general manager 94 salaries reported	$21.16 per hour
Shift manager 12 salaries reported	$18.54 per hour

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