Best companies for benefits??

[SandrA9810]

That's not cool. Publix used to be good. But once a company is good, it's not long before it goes down the drain like the rest of them. I still enjoy publix over any other grocery store and wish there was one out here. Raley's doesn't compare.

I don't think many companies will match the benefits Disney gives. YMCA facilities on site, with great rates for the occasional emeregancy day (5$ for the first 5 visits). Full benefits for full and part timers, it was less than 20$ a week for the higher end coverage for only me. 401k's and stock options, pension plans in some departments, and discounts galor. Plus a clinic onsite for CM's with a pharmacy. I'm sure there were more I can't even think of right now. Of course that made up for the bad pay, and horrible full time hrs during the holidays...

Although I don't remember the requirements for Home Depot, I know they also had a nice college grant program for employees and dependants. The benefits weren't bad either price wise.

I was reading up about how many people in their 20's don't have insurance coverage, mostly because entry level jobs don't offer benefits. And these are the jobs that college kids are holding while going to school, transitioning into their desired work, or just trying to get some job experience. In one way it's insane that in the state of new jersey a person can stay on their parent's insurace until they're 30 (following a few rules), but on the other hand, I can see why.

 

[Shleedogg]

I used to work for Citi(group) the parent company for CitiBank/Citi credit cards. They had absolutely amazing benefits and work environment. They really made you feel like they cared for their employees. I paid about $30 a month for myself and my DH for insurance, including vision and dental and had top tier coverage for everything. After 3 months with the company they would match your 401k contribution up to 6%. Life insurance I don't remember.

They also paid for your undergrad, in any subject, in full. They paid for your masters degree in full if it was in an approved area. After you'd been there 6 months or a year (can't remember) they paid you for 12 weeks maternity leave and 100% pay. Really, really good company. Plus they had fun parties throughout the year. Christmas party at a big hotel, all you could eat, top shelf open bar all night. Halloween theme dept competition with prizes, summer block party with free food.

Really, it was a great company. Management in my dept was a completely different story.

 

[SandrA9810]

It is frustrating when a management team can ruin a work experience at a really good company.

 

[pintamino]

A lot of the defense companies also have really good benefits. Lockheed, Raytheon, BAE and Boeing.

Don't forget the government either, especially the defense agencies. Maybe you make a bit less than the private sector, but you can't beat the job security and benefits!! They hire almost every occupation you can imagine. I work for the Army and I love it!! (knowing you are helping support the men and women out in the field is a great feeling too!).

 

[lovesmurfs]

I also believe that Starbucks offers full health insurance for part-time workers as well.

 

[silmarg]

Companies that sell "sin" products like tobacco and alcohol usually have good benefits.

Bank benefits are not what they used to be. When I started at a big bank 17 years ago we got free lunch, nearly free medical, matching 401k, plus profit sharing, plus a traditional pension plan.

Now we pay for lunch, $500+ per month for medical, no 401k match (lower salary do get match) , no profit sharing, cash balance pension plan that may have 1X my salary when I retire (under the old plan I couldve retired comfortably at 55)..

I make a good wage, but benefits are kind of pathetic.

Lesson: if you are not part of a collective bargaining agreement, benefits can come and go. Mostly go.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if other grocery chains have the same benefits, although a lot of them don't seem to be family owned anymore either.

If you can find a grocery store that has a Union, they tend to have excellent benefits. The problem is that there are never openings, b/c people love their jobs too much to leave!

Just had to add that not all hospitals are the same.

I was just reading, perhaps on the Dis, about someone who worked at a hospital, and their benefits did NOT cover their own hospital or doctors!

Sorry but NO! I have worked for Publix for 4 years part time and get practically no benefits.
Unfortunately though, seems like Publixs "bad points" are growing...

It sounds like they are going back to their old ways. My mom worked for them around the time frame that they were sued over...women were NEVER put into management, the treatment of women vs men was just horrible...even the baggers (all young men) got to wear normal pants, normal shirts, and ties, while the women (ONLY hired for cashier, deli, bakery type positions, never baggers never management) wore FULL polyester (in lime green), top and bottom. And thick poly, not thin stuff. It was a short-term job while she waited for the "spouse position" to open at her husband's job (govt) and for her security clearances to go through, so she didn't take part in the class action, but she did work there during that time! And here I thought they'd gotten better.



The western WA area has some nice companies with more than decent benefits. The only problem is that some companies like hiring people as contractors, which of course comes with much higher paychecks, but no benefits. That's actually OK when young and single, b/c your cost of living can be lower and it's just one person's insurance to cover (and no life insurance needed if no one else depends on your money). It's when you have a family that things get more difficult (as hubby found during his 2 months contracting at Microsoft). It did, however, help us realize that what we thought were "high" premiums at amazon were actually generous, as they were covering 2/3 of the actual premiums....

Companies out here are also VERY willing to look beyond a degree and see what actual experience you have. DH never even finished his second year at University of Washington (personal family-of-birth reasons, not academic reasons, he's quite smart), but he's had some GREAT work experience, and he's never been kept from an interview or job because of his lack of degree. The *only* thing the lack of degree has caused is perhaps a lower starting salary, but it hasn't kept anyone from hiring him.

 

[Swimalie]

Don't forget the government either, especially the defense agencies. Maybe you make a bit less than the private sector, but you can't beat the job security and benefits!! They hire almost every occupation you can imagine. I work for the Army and I love it!! (knowing you are helping support the men and women out in the field is a great feeling too!).

I agree. My husband works in the Treasury Dept. He could get higher pay doing the same job in the private sector but the benefits with the govt are so good that it's not worth it for us.

 

[kydisneyfans]

My wife has worked for a hospital in Ohio, and then 2 different ones here in KY and they have provided the best benefits for our family that we have ever seen.

Toyota is another great benefit company. The workers complained when they started paying $5 per pay for coverage.

 

[disneylove69]

Tjx (Marshalls, tjmaxx, home goods, AJ Wright) offer medical, dental, 401K, paid holidays, vactions, jury duty, bereavement, associate discounts, etc.

 

[Luvchefmic]

People love to hate the US Postal Service BUT my Dad raised 5 kids on this position and my Brother is now working for them..yes high stress, continuous testing but if you can get in you're pretty much set for life

 

[4shinystars]

I work for Starbucks, and if you work 20+ hours a week (min 240 hours per quarter), you are eligible for health ins, 401K, stock options, life ins.
Pay may start low, but there are regular reviews and raises. 30% discount, and free pound of coffee/box of tea a week are perks also.

 

[enchantingodin]

It sounds like they are going back to their old ways. My mom worked for them around the time frame that they were sued over...women were NEVER put into management, the treatment of women vs men was just horrible...even the baggers (all young men) got to wear normal pants, normal shirts, and ties, while the women (ONLY hired for cashier, deli, bakery type positions, never baggers never management) wore FULL polyester (in lime green), top and bottom. And thick poly, not thin stuff. It was a short-term job while she waited for the "spouse position" to open at her husband's job (govt) and for her security clearances to go through, so she didn't take part in the class action, but she did work there during that time! And here I thought they'd gotten better.

Well I can tell you this. If you work in management for publix you are required, yes REQUIRED to work a minimum of 50 hours a week. In case your math is a little fuzzy - those are 12 hour shifts. However many of the assistant department managers end up working much much more. Like 60-65 a week is typical for our assistant grocery manager. Totally insane. And Over-time? HA. They're salary. They don't get OT.

As for women in management. Sure there are many now. But not a ton in the upper positions. Took my former boss 8 years of being a customer service manager before she finally got moved up to assistant store manager. And as per the law suit you mentioned there is now a quota system in place for all the "management" (meaning anything above entry level) positions in the stores. So sad to say some people who are terrible at their jobs will get and stay in a position because of either their sex or skin color. Which is, in fact, racism. But that's too 'political' and 'touchy' for the dis so I will say nothing more about it.

I will say however that working for publix depends entirely on your management team. If you have good managers, work isn't so bad. It's fairly relaxed and everyone can joke and have a decent time while still getting work done. If you have bed managers? Working there can be pretty close to hell on earth. I've experienced both.