Publix letting up on employee appearance?

[cjd]

I remember reading about a year ago that Publix was going to start allow employees to wear facial hair. Prior the most you'd see on an employee was a mustache. As someone who has a beard themselves, I think this is a healthy move in this day and age. As long as the employees keep it presentable and it doesn't present a sanitation issue in the food processing departments, I don't see an issue.

Lately though, I have noticed a few other areas where they've gotten a bit lax on appearance. For example, I've been seeing employees wearing T-shirts, not all the time but I think for special events, they had them made up. This is something I never would have seen before. Back in the day, the women wore vests and one of those little lace ties. Male cashiers usually wore a short sleeve shirt and necktie. Baggers and stockers usually wore polos but never T-shirts.

Also, exposed tattoos. Now, I've nothing against tats but I think in the past you'd never see this either, if they had them they had to wear a long sleeves dress shirt or polo. Now I'm starting to see them more often there.

Finally, untucked shirts. I saw some stockers with this a few weeks ago, I thought it was possibly just since they were mostly working in the back room. But today I saw a few baggers with their polos untucked. This especially struck me as odd, because it just doesn't lend the usual polished appearance.

I wonder if these other things than the beard change has to do with the management in this one store changing, or if with the expansion into other states, Publix is starting to let down on the old fashioned standards? I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean, in a way it lets the employees be a little more comfortable, but in a way it seems like Publix is losing its edge, and I wonder if that will spread to other aspects. I get the feeling Publix is going more mainstream as the chain expands, and this could lead to their downfall if it spreads into other aspects. In other states, they will probably never notice it, but having been in Publix native territory, I do wonder if others are noticing these changes?

Maybe I'm just being too observant.

[veteran+]

The farther south you go the more lax Publix gets about everything.

Check out Miami sometime.

BTW, many retailers are relaxing their dress code in response to available labor in their area.

[Super S]

The farther south you go the more lax Publix gets about everything.

Check out Miami sometime.

BTW, many retailers are relaxing their dress code in response to available labor in their area.

I can't speak for Florida, but will say that things have loosened up considerably in the Pacific Northwest. Tattoos are common. I have also seen gauged ear piercings on cashiers in many stores, nose rings, alternative hairstyles, and male employees wearing nail polish.

It is a sign of the times though...with a tight labor market and many prospective employees flaking out and not showing up after hiring (yes this really happens) some employers have relaxed standards so they can maintain basic staffing levels. I will also say that the legalization of Marijuana in Washington has not helped things.