Not Publix Owners

On day one Publix emphasizes to its new associates that we are not only employees but company owners. We go through training on a quarterly basis that further emphasizes that we are company owners. You would think that as an owner we would get some say in how business is conducted. What most employees soon realize is that this is a lie and that we are not owners at all rather, we are just occupants of space within the buildings that Publix owns. We were given pins that read, "Proud Publix Owners." Proud? If I had to guess, I'd say that majority of the company's employees aren't "proud" to work for Publix. There are policies that we must follow such as a shaving policy that requires the men to shave their beards, even the stubble that is left behind after shaving. We get scalded for having stubble and I think as an owner we should be able to express ourselves in the way we look as long as we don't look messy. I've been told by people in higher-up positions that facial hair makes us look "messy." This should NEVER be said, especially to an "OWNER" of a company. We're also required to wear black socks with black shoes and white socks with white shoes when we sre wearing shorts and the shorts must be Publix brand shorts. I, along with countless other employees believe that these policies are unnecessary for business. We are living in a time that doesn't care about how our face looks. We need to stop Publix from calling us "Owners" since we are not owners because the message that is being made to associates is very misleading. If we have no voice, no freedom of expression, then we are not owners, but rather a piece of space taking up a piece of land that can be used to better the world. I'm not expecting any signatures but I would like people who support this petition to sign it!