How To Get Promoted At Publix – A Simple Process

If you’re like me, you want to make more money and get more responsibility at work. After all, why do something for cheap when you can get paid the big bucks? Especially if it’s doing a job you love, getting promoted is the icing on the cake. The icing could be literal if you work in the Publix bakery department, but getting promoted will also bring a much-needed raise.

Employees can get promoted at Publix after as little as six months and generally promote from within. Generally, a promotion requires stellar job performance, interest in the promotion, and a management training class.

There’s a lot to unpack here. Getting promoted in most companies takes hard work and dedication. Beyond this generalization, though, Publix’s corporate culture plays a role in who gets promoted and who doesn’t. In the end, you’ll have a better idea of getting promoted at Publix.

Getting Promoted Comes Down to Dedication.

One of the great things about Publix is that they are employee-owned. Generally speaking, the farther you are up in the company, the longer you’ve been there and the more shares you have. And like many companies of this type, Publix has a culture of caring about its employees.

However, commitment and dedication are a two-way street. To get promoted at Publix, you’ll need to demonstrate that you can “bleed green” and be a valuable team member.

Working Hard is Critical.

Proving you’re ready to get promoted at Publix also involves demonstrating that you have what it takes to be a manager. You’ll need to work hard and follow these guidelines to have the best chance:

• Show up on time. Managers are expected to be on time for their shifts, so you’ll also be expected to do this.
• Demonstrate stellar customer service skills. Publix is famous for customer service, and even if you don’t pick the “customer service” department to advance, you’ll need to show you can delight the customer.
• Pick the department you like best. It shows in your job performance if you’re happy in a given department. Besides this, loving your department helps when it’s time to lead.
• Be a team player. Managers are paid to lead teams, so demonstrate your ability to be a valuable part of yours.
• Don’t be afraid to work an extra shift. Sometimes even the best-run department is short-staffed or must deal with an associate who needs to take unplanned time off. Being there for your team shows you’re management material.
• Don’t slack off. You’re unlikely to get promoted if you’re always at the water cooler or smoking a cigarette out back.

Ultimately, being a manager requires longer hours and a willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the department running smoothly. If you can’t demonstrate leadership and commitment at your current job level, then management has no reason to believe you’ll improve as a manager.

Be Sure to Communicate.

Just because you’re working hard doesn’t mean that you want to get promoted or that management will think about promoting you. Instead, discussing your goals with management whenever possible would be best.

The perfect time to talk about your management aspirations is during a performance review. For new hires, these happen every month and, after that, once a year.

Communicating can happen at other times, too. For instance, you might know there’s an opening in the management team, or they might post the job somewhere. Either way, remind your manager that you’d like to be promoted and apply if you’re eligible.

What’s the Promotion Process?

Publix has a “promote from within” policy, with most managers starting in entry-level positions. If an associate shows leadership potential and has excellent performance reviews, they have a good chance of promotion.

However, great reviews aren’t the only essential ingredient for promoting your dreams. Rather, you need to pass a test. After you pass the test, you can take management training courses before being interviewed for an open position.

The hard part? Finding that open position. Publix has one of the lowest turnover rates in the grocery industry, so you may need to wait. Luckily, that wait tends to be manageable, as the average time from hire to first-level management is about 18 months.

Want to work your way to Store Manager? Publix says the average time from hire is about ten years.

How Much Money Can I Make As A Manager?

Unsurprisingly, managers make a lot more than entry-level associates. Chain-wide, the average non-manager associate makes $32,500. That number jumps to $56,000 for entry-level management (generally department heads in a store) and a whopping $139,000 when you reach store management.

Regional managers make even more, though figures weren’t available publicly.

There’s more to being a manager than more cash, however. Many associates are eligible for comprehensive benefits, such as health insurance, training, and time off. And because associates can buy more company stock than their regular allowance, having a bigger salary may mean more equity.

Getting Promoted at Publix Means Management Has Confidence in You.

While employee-owned companies generally have worker-friendly policies, it also means that the decision-makers think differently when making promotion decisions.

Look at it this way: if you own something special, wouldn’t you take care of it? In this case, owning part of a company is more than just earning a paycheck. It’s a valuable asset that will grow in value if you’re careful. And when the time comes to retire, the assets will provide some income.

Conclusion

Getting promoted at Publix isn’t easy. You can’t just show up late and have a smoke every five minutes, then rake in cash. If you behave this way, you’ll not only fail to get promoted but also lose your job.

That said, getting promoted at Publix is somewhat easier than at some other places, partly because of their employee ownership and promote-from-within policies. Work hard, express your interest, and see what happens. Best of all, it’s worth the trouble when your new paycheck comes in.