Where do I begin????? I have worked Part Time, Full Time and in Management in multiple stores.
Pros
*The pay is ok if you're non-management, but great if you are in management. Really the bonuses, and benefits (401K & given company stock) and insurance are really the only thing worth hanging around for (especially for non-management employees), if you meet the requirements for them, and depending on the managers, you will probably have to work very hard to get them, but there are a few who give those positions away easily. *Great co-workers. There will always be people you make not get along with in life but you should definitely be able to make some great friends here. Publix co-workers usually form long lasting bonds. *They must be doing something right, Publix continues to make record profits, even in a bad economy. They have also never laid off anyone due to company down-sizing or a bad economy. Good job security. *They hire from within, so even if you do not have a degree and work hard, you can work your way up the ladder. *The company is owned and operated by employees. Employees can buy and also are given stock. Publix is not an openly traded stock.
Cons
*The hours are horrible (could start at 4am and end at 11pm or 12am). How bad the hours really are depends on what department you work in and if you are a manager or not. Non-management works a max of 8 hours with usually an hour break, but what you work varies, and could be any day of the week, and your schedule changes from week to week. In management you work 10 to 12 hour days (sometimes longer), and no guaranteed break, but you usually get one, and your schedule can change from week to week though they try to give you a set schedule, if possible. Due to the long hours, and stress of the job, many find it hard to maintain a healthy work/life balance. *This is retail and lets face it- working with the public can make you crazy. *Each store is usually ran differently, even though they are part of the same company. Everything depends on your Store Manager, who makes the rules and procedures as they see fit, even changing the rules or misinforming other employees because of their ignorance or to suit their needs. *The corporate office insists on using archaic technology and software.. I find it ironic that a company that prides itself on being the first supermarket to have such advanced equipment in their stores when they first opened, like automatic opening doors, yet now they consistently fall behind or neglect their stores in this way. *Cut back on benefits to part time workers. This has happened in just the past few years. *The constant cutting back of payroll or not having enough payroll for business needs has to be the number one gripe with most people who work in the stores, especially in management. And that would lead to my next point, how does a manager effectively manage a store or their department if they spend almost all of their time bagging groceries or stocking shelves and making subs? Nor should they spend all their time locked away in their office, but most managers end up making up for the lack of payroll by doing the work themselves. Managers are told to just "make it happen." *Management or leading to management can be very competitive. I have seen people lie and cheat (among other things) to make their way to the next position. *There are a few amazing managers, but sadly not nearly enough to go around. Managers are so key to the stores moral, and to business, but in most areas all the bad managers are placed into the same stores, usually low volume/slow stores, while the good ones go to the high volume/busy stores. I have seen this too many times to count. The same thing has happened can with non-management employees, but in management it can be more detrimental. *In the past few years, there has been a growing disconnect and disdain for Publix corporate and their DM's. They seem almost oblivious to the what goes on in their stores- good or especially bad. It would be amazing to see any District Manager in your store for more than an hour (though there are exceptions, a rare few will spend more time), and even more amazing to see anyone in a management position who is above the District Manager. How do you really know how your stores are operating if no one above the Store Manager ever goes in there?! Managers are asked to spend time with their employees, mentoring and coaching them. I think if the District Managers and Corporate did the same with managers (and even employees) in their stores, I think that alone could make a huge difference in moral and they way the stores are operated.
