Poor new leadership - Software Developer Michaels Employee Review

1.0
Mar 22, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay and benefits, co-workers and team

Cons

No leadership in Technology. CIO is highly technical but degrading to the employees, he lacks leadership skills and new leadership is questionable. Bringing in immature leadership resources who also do not know how to lead. CIO is allowed to behave this way because the CEO brought him in to the company and protects him. HR can't even do anything to resolve the issue. Questionable action from CIO and China involvement. Building a tool without any business involvement and requirements. It may look nice but behind the screen there isn't quality. CIO won't admit to mistake of hiring so many young and inexperienced developers and managers so now he is moving work to China. Stay away until the CIO and CEO are no longer with the company.

Explore other reviews about Michaels

5.0
Feb 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Had a really lovely recruiter w/ clear email communication back and forth. Process was a phone screen followed by an interview.

Cons

Interviewers were slightly late to the interview. Lots of technical questions, no leetcode style ones though.

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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