Slave Labor Returns to the 21st Century - Manager Michaels Employee Review

1.0
Sep 30, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working with good people and the customers.....sometimes, when they are not being completely ridiculous and demanding with their stupid coupons and trying to manipulate the system.

Cons

Where do you start. Being made to live in the stores and not being "allowed" to leave for the day until the absurd work lists that are doled out 2 hours before the end of your shift is completed. Being open on Thanksgiving for God's sake. Never having any payroll to operate the stores, but the DM's want to know where "all of your people" are. Newsflash...there aren't any, idiot. Working 6 day work weeks for 8 weeks leading up to Christmas with the week of Christmas being a 5 day work week. Oh, I'm sorry that week is the heaviest, most extreme Plan-o-gram week of the year. You can have a 5 day work week ONLY if EVERYTHING is completed. They know this, of course. Merry Christmas! Giving your employees a great deal of 20% off everything, even sale items, for the Friends and Family Event.....except that week there isn't a sale ad running, bummer. Another thing planned by Corporate. Taking all of the new, more automated processes and reverting them back to the old manual way just because the DM's refuse to embrace them so you are doing double and triple work AGAIN with no payroll. It just goes on and on. You will see if you are stupid enough to accept a job there after reading this. I truly feel for you but you deserve what you get.

Explore other reviews about Michaels

5.0
Jun 18, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits and the people there.

Cons

It was far away from me.

2.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some great co-workers, employee discount, on site office benefits including a gym and cafe for breakfast/lunch, full suite of employee benefits at reasonable prices

Cons

Ridiculous amount of stress. Retail in general is often stressful but the amount of stress at Michaels is unnecessary and over the top. Constant last-minute changes by leadership to creative, promotions, products, and any other kind of changes. Things will be finalized and signed off on and delivered, and somebody will make a change at the last minute and things are constantly having to be redone. People are worn down and worn out. It’s the highest turnover rate of any place I’ve worked in retail at the corporate office. I’ve seen people take jobs and be gone within weeks. Leadership in some departments are extremely micromanaging and controlling even with employees that are tenured and have multiple years of experience. The stress level for both tenured and new employees is very high. Projects get discussed over and over and over again, decisions are made and then revisited again after decisions were made making delivery late and causing people to work unnecessarily in order to fix things that could’ve been done correctly the first time. The company tries really hard to make the workplace fun and offer activities, motivation, and incentives. Unfortunately they don’t offset what the environment is like working inside with some of the teams and expectations to actually deliver the work. Would not recommend.

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