Mr. George knew from the start that at Publix, his associates would be treated with dignity and encouraged to speak up. He once said, “If you want people to respect you or your company, you must first show respect for them.”

Respecting the dignity of the individual means encouraging others to share their ideas and opinions, and helping them learn from their mistakes. And it’s an essential part of the Publix culture.

Diversity Manager Chris Lindo puts processes and programs in place to help make sure that happens. Although his focus is on bringing attention to groups with diverse backgrounds, his goal is for every associate to feel included and respected — regardless of ethnicity, gender, religious or political beliefs, or level of education.

Publix defines diversity as a combination of all the characteristics that make us uniquely individual as human beings. And according to Chris, our diverse backgrounds give Publix a competitive advantage.

“Through mentoring programs and internships, associates are bringing things to the table that help grow our business. We’re giving associates an avenue to express their thoughts and the opportunity to meet Publix leaders and learn more about how our company runs,” said Chris. “We want all associates to be happy, and this gives us a window into finding out what that means for more people. It’s the right thing to do, and as a company, we’re always willing to do the right thing.”

In Chris’s experience, people tend to naturally divide themselves into categories like culture or economic status. It’s his job to help bring us all together. He believes through continuing to understand and respect the individual characteristics of one another, our associates will grow and our company will be stronger. After all, our differences only add to the reasons Publix is a great place to work!

Respect the dignity of the individual

 
Watch this lesson come to life at corporate.publix.com > About Publix > Publix Culture