User:Rosalesa474
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Social responsibility[edit][edit]
Panera Cares: non-profit restaurants[edit][edit]
In 2010, the company's nonprofit foundation created Panera Cares, a "Pay what you can" restaurant in its home market of St. Louis.[53] CEO Ron Shaich based the idea on an NBC profile of the SAME Cafe in Denver, Colorado.[54] It later expanded the concept to Dearborn, Michigan; Portland, Oregon; Chicago; and Boston.[55][56] Each site served approximately 3,500 people every week.[57][58][59] The Panera Cares in Chicago shut down at the end of January 2015.[60] The Panera Cares in Portland, Oregon shut down at the end of June 2016. The original location near St. Louis closed in January 2018.[61] The last location in Boston closed on February 15, 2019.[62][63]
Free-range eggs[edit][edit]
On November 5, 2015, Panera announced that it will use free-range eggs in all of its stores by 2020. Panera also announced the addition of more plant-based proteins, such as edamame and organic quinoa, to its menu.[64] At the time of the announcement, the company said it was 21% cage-free in the roughly 70 million eggs it used in 2015.[65] In December 2016, it published its third animal welfare progress report, announcing new efforts to improve broiler chicken welfare.[66]
Peanut butter allergy lawsuit[edit][edit]
In 2016, a lawsuit was filed after an employee at a Natick, Massachusetts store put peanut butter on a sandwich, despite being informed that the person receiving the sandwich had a peanut allergy. The plaintiffs charged the company and those employees involved with intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress as well as assault and battery.[50] The recipient of the sandwich was hospitalized briefly.[51] Less than one month after the incident, another restaurant reportedly had a nearly identical incident with another person who had a severe allergy to peanuts.[50] In June 2018, a judge sent the case to a jury.[52]
Community giving[edit][edit]
The Day-End Dough-Nation program provides unsold bread and baked goods to local area hunger relief agencies and charities. Panera Bread bakery-cafes donate $100 million worth of unsold bread and baked goods annually to local organizations in need.[67] Panera also supports events held by nonprofit organizations serving those in need by donating a certificate or fresh bakery products.[68]
Clean Consultations[edit]
As of 2016, Panera advertises it's consumers that their menu is 100% clean of GMO's and artificial preservatives.[1] With their menus continuing to grow, Panera now offers counselling to other food services to have a more holistic approach when it comes to purging their menus of artificial ingredients and preservatives.[2]
Tabler v. Panera LLC et al[edit]
In a 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed by Plaintiff Briana Tabler in California, accusing Panera of false advertisement and fraud. While former CEO Rob Schaic claimed that Panera's menus continue to be completely void of artificial flavors, sweeteners, and ingredients,[2] Tabler argues against the company's intentional redaction of the fact that their products contain traces of the synthetic biocide glyphosphate.[3]
Employee Culture[edit]
Discriminatory Lawsuit[edit]
In 2003, a lawsuit was filed by a former employee who claimed he was fired after allegedly refusing to carry out discriminatory policies set forth by his superiors.[69]
Violation of California Labor Code[edit][edit]
In 2009 and 2011, class action lawsuits were filed by former workers alleging that the company violated the California Labor Code, failed to pay overtime, failed to provide meal and rest periods, failed to pay employees upon termination, and violated California's Unfair Competition Law. Panera paid $5 million to settle all claims and denied any wrongdoing.[70][71]
2011 racial discrimination lawsuit[edit][edit]
In 2011, a former employee filed a racial discrimination lawsuit alleging that he was eventually fired after repeatedly having a black man work the cash register instead of putting him in a less visible location and having "pretty young girls" be the cashiers, as requested by supervisors.[72][73] The plaintiff also said he was fired after requesting another month off after returning from 3 months of sick leave.[72] Panera said it "does not discriminate based on national origin, race or sex," and that the plaintiff "was terminated because he had used all of his medical leave and was unable to return to work."[72] The plaintiff worked in a store owned by franchisee Sam Covelli,[74] who also owns the stores that were involved in the 2003 racial discrimination lawsuit.[75][76] Covelli Enterprises is the single largest franchisee of Panera Bread with nearly 300 stores in northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Florida.[77] The lawsuit was settled in June 2012.[78]
2017 class action for failure to pay overtime wages[edit][edit]
In December 2017, former employees filed a class action lawsuit against the company, claiming that they were not paid overtime wages.[79]
In 2003, a lawsuit was filed by a former employee who claimed he was fired after allegedly refusing to carry out discriminatory policies set forth by his superiors.[69]
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