Pros
I have been very fortunate to be blessed with friendly managers in my department. I've helped out at other stores and discovered it's a rare occurrence.
Cons
I'm all for high quality customer service but feel like Publix leads its customers to feel entitled when their associates aren't allowed to say "no". Too many times you come across customers who will complain just to get something for free (which Publix will give to them every time without fail). As a cake decorator who spends time and effort to insure quality goods just for that effort to go to waste on one bad customer after another is deflating. Publix also tends to micromanage to an extreme degree. We have a guide that shows you proper procedures for everything including how to properly put on and take off a glove. Associates are often over worked and quickly burnt out considering no matter how much you accomplish its never enough as if your management doesn't understand theres a finite amount that can be done in an 8 hour shift. If you work in a department that requires you to have any sort of skill prepare to be under appreciated and treated as though anyone can pick up that skill in a week. They will settle for sub quality work so long as it fills a hole. Good associates will be expected to make up for bad associates as being held accountable for poor work ethics is low on your manager's priority list as long as they have someone to pick up the slack.