The company, founded in 1930, has never had a layoff.[86] It has a tuition reimbursement program originally designed for degree-seeking students, but has also become available to those taking individual courses or technical training, including online courses. The program is available to all Publix associates who work an average of 10 hours per week for six months.[87]
In 1995 Publix was sued "for sex discrimination in job assignments, promotions and allocation of hours" and settled for $81.5 million in 1997.[88] Publix had claimed that the suit was simply an effort by the United Food and Commercial Workers to unionize the company, but the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and required Publix to "correct some of its statements."[89]
LGBT policies
In 2014, Publix was fined by the Board of Human Rights of Broward County, Florida for discrimination involved in the termination of an LGBT employee.[90] Upon appeal, the 17th Circuit Court found that the decision by the Board of Human Rights of Broward County "is not supported by competent, substantial evidence" and quashed the order.[91]Publix announced that effective January 1, 2015, health coverage will now be available to same-sex couples regardless of place of marriage, as long as they are legally married.[92]
Awards
Publix has won various local, regional, and national industry and philanthropic awards, among them are:[93]- One of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" (1998–2016) – Fortune
- One of the Best Places to Work in IT (2005–2010) – Computerworld
- One of the "Best Companies to Work for in Florida" (2009) – Florida Trend
- Sustainability Excellence Award (2009) – Supermarket News
- One of the "Most Admired Companies" (1994–2009) – Fortune
- "Green Grocer" Award (2008) – Progressive Grocer magazine
- "Best Grocery Store" (2003–2004) – Florida Monthly magazine
- Winner of the Mid-Florida Society for Human Resource Management Diversity Award (2003)
- Received the Diversistar Award for excelling in promoting workplace diversity practices (2003)
- One of the Top 10 Family-Friendly Supermarkets (2003) – Child magazine
- The Governor's Business Diversification Award – Business Expansion (2003)
- Catalyst Blue Ribbon Board of Fortune 500 Companies with Multiple Women Directors (1998–2002)
- One of the nation's Outstanding Employers of Older Workers (2002) – Experience Works
- America's Second Harvest Grocery Distributor of the Year Award (2001)
- One of the "Employers of Choice 500" (2001) – BestJobsUSA.com
- Special Olympics Florida Hall of Fame (2001)
- United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Merit Award 2000 (2000)
- One of the top companies for working families (1999) – Central Florida Family magazine
- March of Dimes Million Dollar Club Award (1999)
- Progressive Grocer "Retailer of the Year" Award (1998) – Progressive Grocer magazine
- United Way of America national Spirit of America Award (1996)
- One of the top 10 companies in the book, The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America[94]
- Number 2 in Consumer Reports 2015 ranking of Grocery stores
- One of the 25 Most Important Private Companies (2016) - Fortune