Pros
There are endless avenues for advancement. Whether you want to pursue management at the store level, transfer to warehousing or support, there are very few positions that require a college degree. Most pre-requisites simply require experience with the company in certain positions. The company provides very thorough training and development for every single position. For management positions they do separate leadership development courses, informal mentorship programs, and various other supportive coaching methods. Pay is above average for the industry. Management pay is excellent, though major fluctuations in yearly income can result if moved from a higher profit store to a lower profit store, since a large portion of yearly pay is based on bonuses. Benefits are fantastic. Two retirement programs -- 401k with 50% company match up to a maximum of $750 per year, and an ESOP that results in the company giving associates shares of stock equal to a percentage of their gross pay for the year. The company firmly believes that associate ownership of the company helps ensure that it continues to be successful, and it's been an extremely successful model ever since it was created. Health insurance is adequate, though not as good as a national or multinational company would have. Weekly costs are not exorbitant. Life insurance is provided for any full-time associates free of cost. Also, four paid sick days per year (can be taken as hours as well), paid vacation (four weeks after 16 years of service), holiday bonuses (two-weeks pay for store associates and management, one week of which can be taken as paid vacation instead, if so desired), paid holidays, tuition reimbursement etc. Flexible scheduling, but even more so for part-time associates. An excellent place for those in school. Lot's of volunteer opportunities. The company is very focused on giving back to the community and regularly has opportunities to volunteer your time to assist the community for various projects such as food for sharing. Responsive and helpful corporate support departments. Very effective and return phone calls/emails promptly and helpfully.
Cons
Occasionally management promotion decisions can be made a bit hastily in trying to fill needed positions, which can sometimes result in choosing the wrong person for the job. This can be costly in many ways -- wasted money in training and coaching programs for the manager, and having to replace associates that leave because they are working under a manager that isn't the right fit. Sometimes it may be better to go without for a while rather than promote someone who isn't right for the position. Very slow to adapt to technological advances. This is both a bad thing and a good thing since it usually results in better-planned implementation of new technology. However, it's harder to catch up to competitors that have been offering certain things for years. The up and coming generation is extremely quick to adapt to new technology and will choose retailers that offer them something new and exciting in their experience over those slow to respond. We have to be more innovative and take more risks. Management work-life balance is very difficult to achieve. While in theory there are mandated guidelines for maximum weekly work hours, in practice these aren't treated terribly seriously. Reducing the hour requirement for managers will result in well-rested, happier managers who are going to be more productive and treat their associates better. Bizarre fluctuating work week pay (salary with chinese overtime) for management with a large portion of yearly pay based in bonuses. Work environment can vary drastically from store to store depending on the store manager. Some are excellent, invest in their team's growth, collaborate, train, and are not afraid of accountability. Others can be power-hungry, not open to suggestions for improvement, overly-demanding, inconsistent, not fair (show favoritism), etc. The entire climate of the store begins with the store manager -- this position is critical for both the associates/managers working there and the customers' perception of our company as a whole. I heard a store manager say that they are 'gatekeepers of the Publix brand,' which hits the nail right on the head.