Complimenting Publix Staff Could Go A Lot Further Than You Realize - Tasting Table

"Perhaps it's the legacy of being the very first grocery store in the U.S. to offer air conditioning for its guests - transforming a tedious errand into a true respite for shoppers seeking an escape from the Florida heat. Publix was also the first to introduce an electric eye door in a grocery store, which automatically opened so customers no longer needed to push the door with their hands full of groceries."

"Southern hospitality is woven into the fabric at Publix, as all 1,432 stores are located within the Southeastern United States. The bakery's free cookie program gifts a cookie to kids each and every grocery store visit, and baggers still offer to load groceries into vehicles for customers, with a strict no-tipping policy set by the store. But that doesn't mean you can't celebrate an especially helpful and kind employee."

"Publix has long made its employee culture a priority. As the largest employee-owned company in the U.S., the grocery store chain has made Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list every year since the list began in 1998. The grocery store's Pub Subs are a long-time customer favorite, so they make for a worthwhile reward for associates - and most Publix employees likely know about the secret to customizing Pub Subs. Still, online forums discuss the shortcomings of this policy."

Publix pioneered in-store comforts and conveniences such as air conditioning and automatic electric eye doors to improve the shopping experience. Some locations even permit customers to drink alcohol while browsing. All 1,432 stores operate within the Southeastern United States and emphasize Southern hospitality, including a bakery program that gives children a free cookie each visit and baggers who load groceries into vehicles under a strict no-tipping policy. Management may reward praised employees with deli half-sub sandwiches. Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. and has appeared on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For list annually since 1998; Pub Subs are a notable employee reward, though online forums note policy shortcomings.

Read at Tasting Table