- With two years in the company- I had had a fairly positive experience. Until I transferred to another district - Assistant Manager Michaels Employee Review

1.0
Jan 11, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I received positive Feedback when deserved- and Guidance and encouragement when required. Goals were established and training was made available {though I always felt as though The Company should invest more in CBT Via Internet to certify adequate knowledge base of associates and management} My Pay rate was not an overwhelming issue - I was fairly compensated for my time and experience when I was on boarded. I was fortunate enough to be placed at locations that were not overwhelmingly distant from home.Though at my last assignment, Tolls were and childcare were becoming difficult to continue without dramatic change. Inventory management was improving and tight restraints were in place on outside vendor merchandise though almost too well (see below)

Cons

The detractors - allocation of hours for merchandising resets And standard operations - if a job required a 20 hours of strict focus on the task- they allotted 5 hours and of course a focus on providing Excellent Customer Service. - Claiming to advance Outstanding Customer service goals and Eliminating critical positions that provided of wealth of it IE: Floral Designers, Classroom Coordinators, And Full time Lead Sales positions ( I will point out that few retail operations still operate under the payrolls they once did nor do they witness the same customer locality they did) - enormous payroll spent in reactionary ways - poor visit from corporate visit or investing the hours in a location that was " Broken" only after it had become that way as opposed to before it so. - an overwhelming investment into simplified process's that in fact further complicated tasks of management and staff associates - An audit system and compliance instrument that divested the focus of the entire staff any time an auditor was within the region/ district - an inventory management system that focused on a four week trend while being a necessity ham-strung many managers in providing either hot promotional merchandise and/or flex merchandise to carry over after sell through of initial merchandise. Programs were being established just prior to my departure, to aid higher volume stores but they seemed rather dubious in the roll out of it. - Though My departure from the company may have been an anomaly - I have Never been witness to such a stunningly poor manner from a District Manager and Corporate Human Resource Director throughout a 20 year career in retail management. - I could never advice an indiviidual to seek a position in management based on the way I was treated.

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All