Pros

Publix offers plenty of potential for advancement, and a fantastic benefits package--for the right people. Pay is good for the industry, and the management allows for flexible hours. Personally, I think the focus on customer service makes Publix a great company in which to work. Many of the people are great to work with, and managers are very helpful

Cons

Most of the benefits are for full-time employees, but the majority of associates are kept at part time, barely, so you work the hours without the benefits. Even if you have a regular 35 or even 40 hours available, it's nearly impossible to get full time unless you open your availability completely. Favoritism and nepotism are problems, at least at some stores. Policy enforcements are slow, to say the least. The whole chain is supposed to be changing uniforms, but currently only about half a dozen people at our store have the new uniforms. For many people, hours are inconsistent. One week you can get 15 hours and the next, 35 hours. Corporate imposes rules without ensuring that they work in real life. For example, demanding there be one person doing nothing but handing out samples between certain hours, but cutting the department's overall hours allowance, or scheduling only a couple cashiers on a day expected to be busy.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to the little people. When associates bring complaints to management, they should be taken seriously. Don't play favorites with departments or people. Make sure that qualified associates reach full time before new associates. Allow part-time associates to accrue sick leave and vacation time. We need it just as much as full timers.