baker

retail sales associate

shift leader

porter

team leader

Levain Bakery

Overall, Levain is a mixed bag because it all depends on where you are placed as a manager, how they train you, and how the team underneath you operates. In my experience, a lot of injustice occurred on the retail level on a daily basis due to exceptionally poor management. But again, this varies by store, and it's unfortunate that there is no sense of consistency across the board when it comes to any issues that may arise. 

Team members aren't promoted internally, when they should, and "oversight" occurs in a very biased way. Hiring supervisory staff externally isn't an inherent problem, but when that trust isn't built as a two way street, the environment can quickly become hostile and toxic. It is very hard to feel supported as a team when there is a huge disparity between corporate and retail. The company has been told many times to address these issues and bridge that gap and yet the problem continues.

There is also a lot of hypocrisy on their part in terms of "fair practices" and their hiring and firing process. The company advertises itself as a "welcome all" environment but then enforces strict rules when it comes to every detail, allowing for very little difference of opinion. (This is especially the case for any supervisory positions, where certain requirements about personal choices and belief systems are completely irrelevant- and inappropriate- for the job.)

I do believe the company has the best of intentions and comes from a good place (as most companies do) but when a store is littered with rude, overworked staff who have little support and are dismissive to both their bosses and the customers, you know there is a larger problem at hand. Not to mention the turnover for management roles being exceptionally high-- this raises a huge red flag. 

All in all, it was very hard to feel safe and supported voicing concerns about the team and about management when there didn't seem to be a space to do so. Despite all the training meetings and evaluations, a safe environment often wasn't fostered, when the store itself was the problem. So I hope for their sake this can change. Because some of the experiences were incredibly cruel and unjust, and decisions were made that were deemed necessary, without addressing the root problem first.

I have been excited to work in Levain Bakery ever since I applied. You get great skills to learn from at the entree level. Retail experience, barista, cook/bake work when baking off the cookies. Nice to get a 30-minute paid break. You get your uniform and then you're thrown in there to the wolves. 

Their training system has become slightly better since I started but it still doesn't apply the pressure it is needed to hold their GM/AGMs accountable to make sure the team is fully trained. They don't focus on the individual growth of each team member who works there. They make all the Cookie Leads do all the work that should be the responsibilities of a GM/AGM. They have Certified Trainers but they don't make them do the work at all nor do the GM/AGMs fact-check to make sure someone completed their work. Sadly this place isn't safe from the toxic work environments of what retail experience you get anywhere else. There are cliques, there's hierarchy. It's shameful because it isn't at all what they should represent from their core values. People feel stuck in their positions and never get recognition for the work they applied to the work environment. You have to bootlick to even get seen on being considered for anything of a raise or promotion. 

From certain AGMs and GMs points of view, they don't get much work/life balance at all. They're stressed terribly from the job that constantly changes their rules to enforce pushing sales. Of course, everything is always about the business. It's starting to lose its grasp of the people. Even speaking to a long-term employee for years has mentioned it's been tumultuous over the years of the company not having any structure and then booting those who served it the best. 

Sadly the only thing I can say is learned here is a lesson. Not much can be said about opportunities. I stopped giving it my all when the higher-ups of this company stopped caring about the people in my shop. Barely anyone is motivated and burnt out from just pushing through hours of people. They don't give the kudos that should be given.  How do you motivate people that your bosses don't even motivate you? Of course, get the great cookies that social media buzzes about, and that's it. 

Relatively easy job to work (if you can stand being on your feet for hours and customers constantly asking you the same questions). Straight forward training that you can pick up on quickly but no time for mistakes after a certain point because you will be thrown to the wolves shortly after your first week. Overall environment is only tolerable because of the coworkers. Usually nice/friendly people. The social atmosphere makes it easy to keep energy up especially for the waves of customers on certain days of the week. Management is the most flawed of the bunch. Obvious show of favoritism in the workplace. Rules only apply to those outside of the upper circle. Weekly pay will entice you but management fails to schedule on time. Takes on more than they can chew and will blame workers rather than themselves. Will not hesitate to get rid of you without a second chance if you mess up. I wouldn't work here for the sole reason that they're not trustworthy when it comes to time and you aren't gauranteed respect/consideration if management dislikes you. You either have to suck up or be a robot in order to survive. Work at your own risk.

I worked at Levain and helped open two stores in the DMV area. The weekdays are usually slow and steady and the work is still pretty decent. 

The company keeps a skeleton crew all around and does not abide by the schedule you give. I clearly said I would only work one weekend day (Saturday) they consistently scheduled me Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not to mention, the weekend shifts are the absolute worst. The lines are constant always out the door and your on your feet for 8+ hours running around with hot cookies. The company does not allow for E-Tips which would help with employee retention and attitude. Many shifts have been worked by two people, meaning one person will close out the registers, and one will mop the entire place, do donations, lift well over 100lbs, close the entire barista machine, restock, and tray up. Just an insane amount of work for only $17 an hours. There are jobs with the same or less amount of work and you will have the opportunity to make more money, they just don't provide a livable salary for their employees.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There is a lot of leniency with the company.  You are trusted to be honest and because of that, you are always treated as such.  However, it can become a bother when someone just calls out last minute without a “logical” reason and the rest of the team is left to pick up the slack.  This happens 85% of every shift.  People are treated like children in a non-condescending way instead of adults.  I hated that last part.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Cookie leads get all of the responsibility of management without any of the perks.  There is limited to no authority in your position as a supervisor and the higher up’s and AGM & GM do not consider you a manager however you are a part of the Leadership of the store.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment is great.  You should learn to become very close to GM and/or AGM so that if anything happens, they make sure to look after you.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Too much to go into further detail

Same thing different day type of job. Gets boring very quickly. The people around you make it fun and bearable, but management is terrible. The environment is very misogynistic (especially in the commissary), they pick favorites, are clueless if their employees are unhappy and are unappreciative. They try to get away with cutting corners and providing more work for the small amount of people they have to save money. They openly spend their money on dumb things like flying out people from NY instead of spending that money on paying their employees better. They constantly make promises they can’t keep and expect you to go above and beyond just for the smallest raise that you basically have to beg for.  Not to mention, managers are constantly on their phones, standing around talking while people are trying to work and they’re just in the way. Not worth it. 

Poor management, even worse of a corporate team they call ‘cookie suite’.

Discrimination from so many different angles, micromanagement once you’re on everyone’s radar, corporate expects to get held up high on a pedestal so they get real butthurt when that’s not given, pay is a complete joke unless you’re in a senior management role, take advantage of migrant non-English speaking workers, don’t care about any feedback, make such distasteful remarks CONSTANTLY (Ahem, corporate)….Know your worth & value, don’t regret working here until it’s too late. And also, if you’re the honest type of human being that can’t be easily manipulated, RUN! Don’t even bother, save yourself the stress & unworthy headaches because they’ll treat you so poorly & even dare fire you without a legal reason to! Work somewhere else where you’re valued & cared for. 

The company provides training, and once you get the hang of it, it becomes manageable, but it is still labor intensive. You also get free cookies while you're working.

This is the first store on the West Coast, and the management runs it like their own kingdom. The management shows blatant favoritism. Some employees get special treatment no matter how they perform, leading to a lack of trust and cooperation. It feels like hard work goes unnoticed and unrewarded.

Manipulation is another big issue. The management regularly pits employees against each other, creating a toxic and competitive atmosphere. This behavior kills collaboration and leaves many feeling demoralized and undervalued. They've been mistreated many employees. I wouldn't recommend working at this store!

Working at Levain Bakery has been a great customer service job. As a retail assistant, it is a face-paced environment and you have to always be ready to help someone with a smile. The staff at Levain is wonderful warm and friendly. The mangers are super understanding and helpful and very responsive to the concerns of their subordinates. The hardest part of the job is difficult customers, which there are some... Also, upper management has decided that there should not be a tip jar. I don't really understand their choice on this, and it can be frustrating at times when nice customers want to tip because of the great service and product we have. But for the most part, the job is enjoyable and my co-workers are really the ones to help me get through the day!

The company is just personality based and doesn't care how much work you put in.
Meaning the company doesn't care about you and how you feel.

Managers and higher ups act like they care because they are paid to do so

If you're an actor, you automatically have the job no matter how much experience you have.

Promotions are based on just how kind you are and not what your experience is with the job description.

Poor management leading to poor training and careless employees.

Team members on retail team would rather talk about acting instead of helping their fellow co-workers on the job.

No drug screening meaning employees can come high to work on any drug of their choosing.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Baker 65 salaries reported	$23.48 per hour
Retail sales associate 109 salaries reported	$18.26 per hour
Shift leader 73 salaries reported	$22.53 per hour
Porter 45 salaries reported	$19.23 per hour
Team leader 2 salaries reported	$22.50 per hour

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