[hiknapster]

I did NOT notice the date! Notice that is the year that I worked at Publix!

I won't comment further on the things that were done at Publix to me and my fellow employees. Perhaps it improved. Perhaps it was the area that the stores were in. I worked for two, but they were in southwest Florida, a bizarre area, anyway.

I do want to say that I loved grocery retail. So NO, it was not that.

Let's just hope things have improved, like my friend, MovingBacktoPA, says. I have no reason to doubt her. She's a great person.

I also want to say that I now work for a non-union company and their treatment of employees is phenomenal. My health insurance is fantastic. I've also worked for a union company and they weren't too great. So, I think it really comes down to the company and if they value their people.

[jensen beach gal]

I miss Publix! They don't have any here in NC. I always enjoyed shopping at the Publix in Jensen Beach. The employees were always wonderful-they knew my son & I and were always delightful. Everyone from the cashiers to the customer service associates & the butcher-I once inquired about a particular cut of meat (prep,tenderness etc) he reduced the price and promised I'd like it! He was right and was always helpful with suggestions every time I came in. Such personable, friendly employees. I have been to two others in the area-Palm City and PSL and have never been disappointed. I can't imagine them cutting employees wages, I doubt that will happen.

[hiknapster]

Publix attracts great customers, too. I've complained a lot about the folks that live in Fort Myers, but day after day, I waited on WONDERFUL people at Publix. I truly loved waiting on them, since they were so darn NICE! I think that's why I lasted a year there!

I wonder how Publix attracts such nice people?

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Publix attracts great customers, too. I've complained a lot about the folks that live in Fort Myers, but day after day, I waited on WONDERFUL people at Publix. I truly loved waiting on them, since they were so darn NICE! I think that's why I lasted a year there!

I wonder how Publix attracts such nice people?

Hik, it's probably just like you said in a previous post~nice management. If management treats their employees well, they have happy, productive employees. It's nice to be valued and treated fairly by your boss and it just seems to be a chain reaction thing. If you're treated nicely, you're happy and will treat the customers the same way. If you're treated like dirt or an inferior being, well, that just kind of has a chain reaction, too.

[elfyum]

Tallrick - MovingBack2PA is right! I know for a FACT from working at Publix that they REALLY do stuff when you write to/call the warehouse! So many things would be done because "someone called the warehouse"...
Hey MovingBack - why are you gonna move to PA? There are no Publix there! And yes, you do retire with LOTS of $ because of the stock they give you!
After you have been there 5 years, you have $5000 waiting for you when you leave. So if you leave after 5 years, you have the 5k, if you stay, it grows!!! (I only stayed about 3 years - wasn't my cup 'o tea - but yes they have GREAT benefits!)
Oh, and my whatever-you-wanna-call-him is a manager there - the pay IS based on your performance. So yes, they can cut your pay, but only if you're not doing your job. Also, if you've been there a long time, they "cut you slack" ie - my (see above ) & his boss have DONE that - people who are dependable, have been there a long time - even though according to the "book" they are not "role models", as in perfect! - they rate them so that they don't get a cut. I'm sure that's how it is in most places. I mean, how cold can you be?
Publix is a great supermarket. I like Whole Foods because I'm vegan & like to buy organic as much as I can, so for me they have more stuff, but Publix actually does a damn good job of having organic/vegan stuff!!

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by elfyum

Tallrick - MovingBack2PA is right! I know for a FACT from working at Publix that they REALLY do stuff when you write to/call the warehouse! So many things would be done because "someone called the warehouse"...
Hey MovingBack - why are you gonna move to PA? There are no Publix there! And yes, you do retire with LOTS of $ because of the stock they give you!
After you have been there 5 years, you have $5000 waiting for you when you leave. So if you leave after 5 years, you have the 5k, if you stay, it grows!!! (I only stayed about 3 years - wasn't my cup 'o tea - but yes they have GREAT benefits!)
Oh, and my whatever-you-wanna-call-him is a manager there - the pay IS based on your performance. So yes, they can cut your pay, but only if you're not doing your job. Also, if you've been there a long time, they "cut you slack" ie - my (see above ) & his boss have DONE that - people who are dependable, have been there a long time - even though according to the "book" they are not "role models", as in perfect! - they rate them so that they don't get a cut. I'm sure that's how it is in most places. I mean, how cold can you be?
Publix is a great supermarket. I like Whole Foods because I'm vegan & like to buy organic as much as I can, so for me they have more stuff, but Publix actually does a damn good job of having organic/vegan stuff!!

You are right! I stopped by three Publix stores today while going to my parent's house. First the one on Bird and 114 AVe. Cleaned up, and no rotten produce, very nice! Second stopped at the one on Coral Way and 87Ave. Still a lot of Spanish spoken, but it was amazingly clean, even the restroom! The 80's remodeled part still looks ugly, but the rest of the store is A-1! Dropped in to the Miller Road and 94 AVE and the slow checkout and bad smell in the meat area is gone. For a reality check I also stopped by a Winn Dixie. Seemed clean but had more of a "third world" appearance. Good job Publix, now try and take care of your workers by not cutting their salaries!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by tallrick

You are right! I stopped by three Publix stores today while going to my parent's house. First the one on Bird and 114 AVe. Cleaned up, and no rotten produce, very nice! Second stopped at the one on Coral Way and 87Ave. Still a lot of Spanish spoken, but it was amazingly clean, even the restroom! The 80's remodeled part still looks ugly, but the rest of the store is A-1! Dropped in to the Miller Road and 94 AVE and the slow checkout and bad smell in the meat area is gone. For a reality check I also stopped by a Winn Dixie. Seemed clean but had more of a "third world" appearance. Good job Publix, now try and take care of your workers by not cutting their salaries!

Do you remember when Publix was like an exclusive store? They had isles twice as wide as other stores and they were not even open on Sundays.

[tallrick]

I sure do! My mom would complain that they were not open on Sunday, but later on they started opening Sunday afternoon. They also had beautiful stores, with tile mosaics, patterned terrazzo and were all air-conditioned. The stores built before the 1970's had amazing neon "waterfalls" with a space-age jet design and color-changing "PUBLIX MARKET" letters and the saying "where shopping is a pleasure". Even their paper bags had a drawing of their unique stores. I never figured out why they changed their successful store design to the generic style they currently have. Publix was also the only store where they took your groceries out to your car with you. "No tipping is our Publix policy".

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That's another thing about them. They DO hire those folks, which is great. They also hire a lot of kids, which is also great, because so few places do anymore.

I REALLY hate to point this out, but the truth is, they hire a lot of these folks because they don't have to pay them very well.

I worked for them in 2002. There were older workers that had been with them for many years, and I started out making more money than them, because I demanded it. I never told those people I was making more than them.

For example, there was a woman that had worked for them as a cashier for about five years, and was making $7 an hour. So no, they do not pay well. Also, at the time, Albertson's paid much more. I have no idea how it is now.

I could really get into how Publix treats its employees, but I really don't see the point.

I will say, even after I left, I still shopped there. It's a good store for consumers. The products are good and the store is very clean.

I love shopping at Publix too but i find they are the most expensive store but have the best freshest products. On hiring those with disabilities and having to deal with monthly SSI checks, it doesn't matter what money they make because SSI deducts what they make from their monthly checks. Alot of people think people who get monthly disability or SSI can work and whatever money they make is in their pocket but it doesn't work that way. SSI requires you to submit your monthly wages to them and they adjust their disability payment accordingly so whether these disabled employees make $7 or $10 it really doesn't matter because they lose out on the other end. My daughter isn't even old enough to work but before i got married and was eligible to recieve it for her, i had to report MY income so they could adjust her check accordingly. Once i got married then my husbands income was included her checks and insurance stopped completely on the day we got married. But i applaud Publix for hiring these special needs people. I think it's great and the ones at my store do a great job.

[Jammie]

Elfy, a vegan????? Alright!!! I understand totally.

You know, I felt bad for posting this after someone pointed out that this news story is FIVE YEARS OLD! I had actually been looking for the date of it, but didn't see it and it really is right there. But even though I messed up, I'm glad that we got on this subject. I do think it's wonderful that they hire the handicapped and also provide a lot of employment for others, too. From other things I'd read about them, they seemed to have decent benies and even a few extra perks thrown in there. Such as~one free paycheck after a year and two free paychecks every year thereafter. It does sound like they are a good store to shop in and also a good place for employment.