Pros
This store has great employees, and is a fun happy work environment to work in. I have worked in other Michaels stores as temp help, and by comparison, consider myself VERY lucky to have these people to work with everyday. The management in this store is good, and I don't think I would ever transfer to another store if a job became available. Work is only 12 minutes away from where I live, so the price of gas doesn't figure in too much. I am VERY arsy/craftsy so this job suits me very well. I have done almost every craft in the store at one time or another. It's great seeing the new stuff arrive (like a backwards Christmas, you just don't get to keep what you open up!).
Cons
Low wage, low hours but unreasonable high expectations of work levels, resulting in even higher frustration and stress. I am retired, so I am luckily not dependent on the paycheck to pay bills every month. Upper management (at corporate level) doesn't have realistic views of what the average company is really all about, and the challenges that their employees face. They are trying so hard to streamline the company that they are loosing sight of the fact that their employees are their greatest asset. If you work part time, you have very limited hours available. Michaels has a policy of having a certain number of employees for a certain size of store. The employees that are very knowlegable about arts and crafts work the same amount of hours as an associate that knows little to nothing about arts and crafts. Does this make good business sense? No. No monitary compensation for changes in the dress code. I have worke here for 18 months and the dress code has changed twice now. I have had to buy new clothes to fit the dress code and there has never been any compensation from the company.. It is also scarry all the things made in China that are recalled.