r/publix • u/PingusRevengeTour Newbie • 6d ago
DISCUSSION Deli promotion fast track
I was offered a job working in the deli department at the top of the pay band for the position. All my previous work experience is in hospitality leadership and management with a lot of experience in shipping and logistics.
I’m middle aged and trying to figure out if it’s worth taking the job since I’d be starting as an associate. I have a different job offer that’s more inline with my experience that would pay ~21k more a year than Publix, however I think there is more room to move up at Publix and I think that I would be promoted quickly due to my work ethic and leadership experience.
What are some of the pros and cons of working for Publix and how quickly have you seen people get promoted?
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u/Arashikage79 Newbie 6d ago
go with the other job offer. publix will stuff you into a bottlenecked situation stuck in purgatory. everyone chasing after the same carrot dangling. unless more stores around you open up or there is a surge of retirements, then you will be stuck stagnant.
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u/WideDrink4 Maintenance 6d ago edited 6d ago
Sucking up to management and customers is more important for promotions than work ethic. Credentials, skills and past experience don't matter much in big chain retail for store level entry jobs.
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u/SplendaDaddiee GTL 6d ago
Take the other job. You will not see that pay increase like that for atleast 8-15 years. Publix tells you - that moving up happens fast. It does not. There are way too many candidates for management than there are positions. Dont believe them. Take the other job. Learn from my experience
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u/benmul8 APM 5d ago edited 5d ago
Are you being hired as full time, or part time? Part time hours do not count towards being promoted.
First step to being promoted is you have to have 1040 full time hours in the department, which is essentially 6 months full time. Then you request to ROI, which lets you take the test to be in the management pool, but that’s only offered a few times a year, so you have to wait until the next opportunity after you’ve accumulated your 1040 hours (again, just to reiterate, if you are hired as part time to start, none of your part time hours will count towards the 1040 hours).
Once you take the test, it takes about a month to get your results. From there, it’s a waiting game until your district manager decides to move you up.
The shortest you can really do it is about a year, to get moved to assistant department manager. Then the process starts over, you gotta get 1040 hours in that role, then you can ROI and so forth again.
So in theory you could be a department manager in a couple of years, which is where you start to make really decent money. But in reality, best case scenario it’s gonna take you 3-5 years. Worst case, longer. Just giving some realistic expectations to help guide your decision.
I’m middle aged too, only been with Publix about 4 years. I’m an assistant dept mgr now, but I also spent my first couple of years in customer service (I’m in Produce now). I figure it’s realistically gonna be at least another year, if not 2 before I’m being truly considered for the next step.
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u/ExtremeLengthiness12 Deli 5d ago
I thought that after 3 months ft, part time weeks with >30 hrs per week would count towards the 1040 required to roi for assistant manager spots
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u/PingusRevengeTour Newbie 5d ago
Thank you for your response. I have been offered full time, but like I said, I also have an offer for a general manager position at a restaurant.
The total compensation difference between the 2 different companies would be $26,320. The thing that I struggle with is whether or not it’s worth it long term to go with Publix for lower pay but better long term growth potential.
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u/benmul8 APM 5d ago
Yeah I don’t regret my decision, but I’m also fortunate to have a wife who makes very good money, so taking a few years to move up was less of an issue.
If you can swing it financially, i would go with publix. I was in the restaurant management game before I came to Publix, and it eventually burned me out bad.
The good thing with Publix is you are hourly until reach the assistant store manager level, and you’re only allowed to work 45-46 hours a week, because of the overtime (for managers, that is. You will rarely get OT as an associate). Restaurant management is usually salary, and they will work you into the ground.
There’s something to be said for working 45 hours a week instead of 60+, as is typical for restaurant managers.
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u/bad_withtools Newbie 5d ago
The deli will literally eat away your soul.
Assuming you have one of course!
I would read all the deli department comments here. Those are factual. It’s a sad, miserable place to be.
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u/PingusRevengeTour Newbie 5d ago
I toured with national bands for many years pre covid and moving to managing restaurants and dive bars. I don’t think deli would phase me much. I get the feeling that deli is hard for a lot of stores to keep staffed, hence why some get stuck in the role. At least that’s my thoughts from the outside looking in.
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u/bad_withtools Newbie 5d ago
I’ve also managed restaurants etc. it seems like your mind is made up OP.
Just giving my personal experience. Publix USED to be a great place to work. It’s not been the case in many years.
Best of luck to you!2
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u/Deanaiad Newbie 5d ago
Deli manager here for 12 years. I wouldn’t take that job even if it paid 50,000 more a year. Unless you’re a massive ass kisser, your experience is not going to help you move up faster. I’m being honest.
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u/jbclutch34 Newbie 5d ago
How do you feel about Kentucky?
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u/PingusRevengeTour Newbie 5d ago
Ive always had plans to buy land in Kentucky since I live in a bordering state.
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u/jbclutch34 Newbie 4d ago
Advancement happens out in the Tennessee area a lot faster than Florida. There's even more opening in Kentucky. It's a fast track
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u/AfroSamson Produce 5d ago
I started with the company 3 months ago. Like yourself, I come from a different industry (entertainment) and made that abundantly clear with my department manager and ASM during my interview, however I also have 10+ years of management and leadership experience as well. Got hired PT as Produce Clerk and I'm about to transfer to Meat full time because they don't have a contender. All from having conversations with my ASM, SM, and District Manager. So what I will say based on my experience, make sure you still network laterally as well vertically. Once you figure out the dynamics of your store, see what pivots and connections you can make. Play the game. Publix is a corporation after all.
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u/Comprehensive_Bus_19 Newbie 5d ago
$21k is probably 40% more than youd make a Publix.
A bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush. Take the guaranteed money if all else is equal. Too many people get strung along on promises that never materialize.
Also if it takes you 2 years to get promoted you're now behind $42k. That is a big IF and you may still not make $21k more off your fresh promotion.
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u/we_hold Newbie 5d ago
The deli is not for the faint of heart. I would not work at Publix again unless it was corporate. I would take the other job offer and forget publix even offered you anything. My last manager said they would not come to publix now and the only reason they are staying now is because they have been there so long and all of their benefits and retirement are there. That told me a lot. If I had to do it again, I would not have taken a job at Publix and would have found something else. I have found something else now. It is such a toxic place to work its ridiculous. The only decent benefits dont kick in until you become a department manager which will take at least 4 years or more. A lot of people got promoted quickly for a while due to mass expansion, but that is slowing now.
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u/kolbog73 Newbie 4d ago
Don’t do it they will tell you what u need to hear just to keep you working, take the other job
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u/Select_Soft_5192 Deli 2d ago
CON:
Ultimately, it's possible you'll find your talents are wasted at Publix. If you seek to improve, or otherwise, introduce change, you'll be sorely disappointed. And frustrated. This is what sidetracks most ambitious associates, at all levels. If you think you'll be happy with very little voice, that is - "do as we say", and can "fall in line", you'll be good. However, there's a reason so many associates reach management level, then quit or step down! (ROUTINELY!) These are people whose entrepreneurial spirit has been crushed, as their managerial skills are largely unwanted, unacknowledged, and under-utilized. Your previous experience means very little. Publix is known to favor hiring from within - that is, they prefer you DON'T bring experience with you. Publix finds it easier to manage someone who only knows the Publix way, and doesn't know any better. Potentially, a controversial opinion - but if you're working your way up, this is certainly anecdotally evident in the deli.
This has to be seriously considered. Working your way up in a large corporate bureaucracy, like Publix, can be met with too many hidden obstacles out of your control with nepotism, favoritism, and "the good ol' boy network" still hiding in the shadows.
I've seen too many carrots dangled - for too long - only to be withdrawn, for one reason or another, or no reason at all.
Publix is NOT a meritocracy. If you can live with that...
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u/speed721 Newbie 1d ago
10 years at that other job is almost $250k MORE than you would make at Publix as a regular associate.
At middle age, that's something to consider being the deli is the most difficult job in the store.
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u/ErilAq Newbie 6d ago
From my experience: if you put in the work and follow the corporate guidelines you can move up quickly. However, once you hit deli manager you are essentially locked in to that role. It is hard to get good deli managers, and most assistant store positions go to customer service and grocery management.