Pros
You can come into contact with many creative customers. You may encounter professional artists working the frame counter, but otherwise, I know of very few professional artists or crafts people that shop at Michaels. Depending on the store, your other coworkers can become like family and that is very pleasant even though you all are under massive amounts of stress. These are the only two reasons I keep working here.
Cons
1. Unrealistic expectations for the hours provided: My work list averages 14-20 hours worth of tasks for every 8 hour shift I work. There is no way to accomplish these tasks with the amount of hours given nor following the standard operating procedures. As a manager, I have seen the hours alloted per task compared to the hours given by payroll, and the hours of tasks far exceed the hours alloted to accomplish them. Therefore, employees are overworked and pressured when switching from a task to customer service. 2. Inconsistent and humiliating: Policy only seems to serve until the store manager or corporate gets involved, in which case it is give the customer anything they want. I've seen two associates get warned for not "bending" company coupon policy to please the customer (this was recommended from corporate). The customer is now a repeat customer and belittles these two associates every time she comes in. Also policies seem to shift week to week and are expected to be implemented fully within seven days. I don't even see some of the part-timers for seven days to tell them about the policy change. Communication about issues with corporate is mostly non-existent. 3. Bad scheduling: Scheduling is now done by computer and is not balanced or professional. I cannot plan any time off without losing hours since I don't know from one week to the next when I'll be working. I no longer get a weekend off without requesting it. This is the same for other full-time framers. 4. Needless paperwork: After restructuring the store for simplification, there is 20% more needless paperwork and tasks to be completed. Currently I have to put the daily sales that print out in the morning on four pieces of paper throughout the store. This is only one example of the same repetitive task. 5. Punitive attendance policy: The new attendance policy may be so rigid to curb overtime pay and unscheduled hours, but it is unfair to penalize workers for calling in sick or spending an extra five minutes to finish a task properly. This policy only hurts the better employees and makes their priorities watching the clock instead of doing quality work. Many employees with children that get sick will be out of job if they get more than 6 infractions in a 6 month period. 6. Contrary initiatives: Michaels implemented a BE strategy for employees which includes BE yourself, but then implemented a dress code. These are contrary initiatives confusing several creative people and demeaning the employees personal expression of creativity (within professional limits, of course). Their ads say "Michaels, where creativity happens" but seeing every employee dressed exactly the same is not creative. Also, corporate has stated that Michaels will become less task-oriented and more customer focused, but the amount of tasks has almost doubled and the workforce reduced. What they are doing is not what they are saying. 7. Low pay and lack of benefits: Michaels is the lowest paying retailer in my community. I heard a rumor that Wal-Mart cashiers made more department managers, and upon researching the rumor at Wal-Mart, found out it was true. Only store managers and assistant managers make a decent salary, but if that salary is divided by the hours they work, it is under the current wage rate-of-living for my area. The healthcare benefits are adaquate, but you only get a weeks worth of vacation and 48 hours of sick leave after one year of full-time employment. 8. Poor training: Videotapes? Come on, you can do better.
