I worked at Pret for several years, left for a while and recently came back out of necessity (weekly pay was a massive plus). The change in vibe has surprised me but I can’t tell whether I’ve outgrown the job or if the company has gone downhill.
We’re short staffed, but expectations also seem much higher now. Shops trade longer hours, meaning people are starting very early in the morning or finishing very late, paid breaks are gone, and it’s harder to get the mystery shopper bonus than it used to be.
Although Pret isn’t a traditional coffee shop, there seems to be more pressure around coffee quality and speed. Not to mention general micromanaging.
Curious whether other current/former Pret staff or people in hospitality generally feel the same?