Publix Dating Policy – Here’s How It Works

The workplace is one of the most common places to find friends and partners, but there can be complicated if your workplace limits your out-of-work relationship. 

So what happens if you meet someone special while working at Publix? Do they have a dating policy for their employees? How should you manage to date your Publix coworkers? 

We can’t give you any advice on how to land a date, but here’s what you need to know about Publix’s official employee fraternization policies. 

Publix Employee Fraternization Policies

Like many modern workplaces, Publix recognized that a lot of social interaction happens at work and understands that relationships and friendships are a natural consequence of that interaction. 

As long as work performance doesn’t decline, Publix won’t interfere with fraternization among employees, including starting to date coworkers. 

However, their policies have some natural limitations, and it’s essential to understand how your relationship, or a potential relationship, might fit inside those policies. 

Work Comes First At Work

Publix requires that employees be there primarily to work, not to socialize with their partners or other friends in the workplace. Most managers are pretty accepting of workplace relationships, with some couples reporting that they were often scheduled together so they would still get plenty of time for their relationship outside of work. 

But, if your relationship starts to get in the way of your ability to do your job or becomes a workplace distraction for your coworkers, you might start to have problems. 

The key is ensuring you spend most of your time on normal work activities. Suppose you and your partner are scheduled in the same shift but different departments, for instance. In that case, you should focus on ensuring your tasks are done and helping your other coworkers with theirs before socializing with your partner or helping with their tasks. 

Similarly, while your manager might occasionally give you similar or overlapping breaks and meal breaks, it’s important to stick to the schedule even when they don’t. Shifting your lunch and break schedule to match your partner’s might leave the store short-handed during that time and can be seriously disruptive. 

Lastly, any conflict in your relationship should be left at the door when you come to work. Arguments and disagreements are often a normal part of a relationship. Still, they shouldn’t interfere with your ability to do your job, even if you’re being asked to work directly with your partner. 

What About Breakups? 

Not all relationships are destined to last, so it’s essential to understand that dating a coworker could lead to an awkward post-breakup period where you’re still working together and need to make that work even if you aren’t still together. 

It’s a good idea to talk with your partner early in the relationship about how to handle a breakup if it happens and what that would mean for your working relationship. 

Similarly, if you break up with a coworker you met at Publix, you may want to give your manager or HR representative a heads-up. In some cases, they may be able to shift things around so that the two of you aren’t working closely together. Remember that may not always be possible, and your manager needs to make that decision based on what’s best for the business, not you. 

Are There Any Cases Where Fraternization Isn’t Allowed? 

Yes and no. The main limit on Publix’s policy of free fraternization, as long as it doesn’t cause problems at work, is that a power dynamic between the two employees in question should be avoided whenever possible. 

That means that managers and supervisors shouldn’t get involved with anyone working directly under them and might need to alert HR to relationships with someone they might have power over depending on shifts, future promotions, or changes in the schedule. 

This is important because it helps keep employees safe and prevents you from getting into a position where more than your relationship is at risk in a fight with your partner. You should never be in a position where your job relies on your relationship with a superior at Publix. 

If you ever feel like you’re being pressured into a relationship with a superior, whether that relationship is a friendship or a romantic relationship, you should report it right away. 

What If A Workplace Power Dynamic Starts After The Relationship Begins? 

This is trickier and probably depends on management and HR judgment calls based on their experience with you and your partner. 

Suppose they think you can manage a promotion responsibly, even if it puts you in a supervisory position over your partner. In that case, they may move ahead with the decision. Likely, they will talk with both of you and set up some guidelines for what is and isn’t acceptable in your new position. 

More often, though, if you or your partner are ready for a promotion, but the other person in the relationship isn’t there quite yet, you’ll be moved into a position that doesn’t create a power dynamic. For instance, you might be promoted to being a Supervisor but in a different department than your partner. 

When Do You Have To Tell Publix About Your Relationship?

Publix may ask employees to inform the company about any relationships at a managerial level, preferably as soon as possible. This is so that the company can monitor for unsavory behavior and stop it before it becomes a problem, but also so that Publix can ensure that there aren’t power dynamics in any employee relationships. 

In some cases, that might mean moving people to different departments or informing the higher-ranked individual in a relationship that continuing would be against company policy. 

Do You Have To Be Public About Your Relationship At Publix? 

Not unless you’re a manager or a higher-ranked employee. Below, you’re allowed to keep relationships as private as you want, though letting your supervisor, manager, and HR know what’s happening may be helpful. 

If you are in management, you must inform HR of your relationship, but you don’t have to tell anyone else. 

Remember that keeping a relationship secret is only possible if doing so doesn’t impact your performance at work. If telling your coworkers, or some of your coworkers, makes things easier for you and your partner to manage, then it’s a good idea. 

Publix’s policies give employees a fair amount of freedom regarding workplace relationships. 

Just remember that whether it’s the relationship itself or a breakup that causes problems, Publix has the right to intervene if the workplace is affected by your relationship and has no obligation to make it easier.