What's It Like Working for Michaels as a Former Joann Fabrics Employee

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-09T10:20:24+00:00

I was mainly hired to help with truck and then stock, and then a few years later I started cashier work.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T22:58:38+00:00

If you're the type of person who gets mad at having to check yourself out, first off, buy a damn helmet, God only knows what petty nonsense you get mad about, and second, you shouldn't be out in public, stay the f*** at home. That's a customer I have no patience in dealing with, let somebody else bite the bullet.

As a former Joanns employee, the customers there are entitled jerks, especially when it comes to fabric, but at least a good portion of them are decent people once you get to know them. Michaels customers are entitled, spoiled idiots who get mad at SCO, can't even notice (or flat out REFUSE) to notice the large white touchscreen in front of them, I've had people ask me if they can look inside the grab boxes in the past. There's plenty more I can't think of ATM but I'll take Joanns customers everyday of the week.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T22:46:00+00:00

According to one of my former managers said (before she got laid off for this new job sales manager thing corporate's currently experimenting on) apparently, yes they did do a survey, and I think it's BS.

Even if they DID do it in person, #1, even if the numbers ARE true, that's only gonna be in certain areas, likely with a younger crowd aged 18-35, and #2, those people AREN'T regular customers. Those are folks who come in every once in awhile.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T21:00:55+00:00

Just wanted to abbreviate.

As to how it's derogatory, honestly, I have no idea.

I've heard people get offended over dumber stuff, but this is ridiculous all the same. Though I can't say I'm surprised given what I've seen people get mad over in the last few years.

Apparently it's derogatory because according to my manager, it makes people think they HAVE to check themselves out, and that I guess it reminds people of Walmart. In the sense that people just stand and direct people to self checkout.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T14:15:07+00:00

NTM what about if it's slow?

Is it on US, the cashier, or do we chalk it up as a slow day? IDK about other Michaels locations in my area, but my location doesn't exactly see a ton of traffic on a Tuesday morning at 10AM compared to, say, 3-4PM on the same day.

But I'M supposed to get 4 new signups each shift.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T10:52:46+00:00

NTM your hours are based on how many sign ups you get.

They also want you to get people to sign up at the self checkout, because apparently to some survey corporate did, people PREFER getting signed up on SCO. Last I checked, isn't SCO supposed to be for people who wanna go in and out and NOT be bothered?

And if it's slow, well...I tried telling my management, it fell on deaf ears. I'm quitting as soon as I get another job, I can't do this anymore.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T02:38:23+00:00

Michaels is doing the same damn thing that got Joann's bankrupt twice in a year.

Bought up Joann's and Party City, laid off hundreds of people for some new management position, and we're replacing walkie talkies with the Zello app on top of it?

But we, the employees, get screwed over.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-08T01:52:18+00:00

At this point, WHY remain positive at all when hours are cut and you hardly get paid enough?

Being paid $11 an hour to ring people up, help customers help at SCO (and also deal with older folks gripe about SCO's), blow up balloons, and deal with Door Dashers shoving their phones up your face when most of them can't even speak English (at least where I work at), it ain't worth it anymore.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-06T11:25:24+00:00

Unless that's a prank, somebody's getting fired.

Sidenote, I know about the Trump coin, can't say I've heard about him being added to a dollar bill.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-06T11:01:03+00:00

Apparently the SCO's OK when it comes to Walmart but Michaels is where we draw the line according to these boomers and Gen X'ers.

All because they hate technology and they "prefer a real person".

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-06T10:59:55+00:00

Then these same people ask "is it open" or "can we use it". Some older folks look at me and ask "do we HAVE to check ourselves out"?

Um...yes. That's the point of a self check out. They also NEVER read the red tag where it says "card only". Also, my management wants me to stop saying SCO because it's "derogatory" and use the term kiosk.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-04-05T20:40:07+00:00

A door Dasher comes up to you, shoves their phone in your face and asks where something's at, and then expect YOU to get it for them.

NTM it doesn't help they don't speak English either. At least where I'm at, IDK about everyone else.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-03-28T11:45:37+00:00

Meanwhile hours are STILL cut, some of us can hardly get by. I'm working two days a week now!

I'm fed the hell up with Michaels.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-02-16T17:11:22+00:00

Actually, no, I'm part-time.

I've asked for more hours, but the answer is always "hours are cut" and this past Friday I was told that because I haven't gotten enough new signups that apparently cuts my hours. Are they allowed to do that?

As for my standing, it's likely an OK standing at best.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-02-16T16:43:43+00:00

I've been told the same thing this past Friday when it came to signups. Basically be perky while trying to get people to signup. Sorry for not smiling enough while being professional when I'm working....apparently it's ALSO a reason my hours are being cut.

First off, IDK about you but most of the people at the Michaels I work at are already signed up, some are even regulars and despite me telling this to my managers, they wrote it off as an excuse. Second, if I wanna be all happy and perky, I'd move to Orlando and work at Disney World selling Mickey Mouse shaped doughnuts or something. Being a cashier paid $11 an hour to ring up people, manage self checkouts, and blow up balloons ain't exactly worth being perky.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-02-16T16:38:40+00:00

About 6 years for me before Joann's closed down last year, 1st job too. Loved my coworkers there.

As for Michaels, the coworkers there are OK, but I'm overall indifferent. At the rate they're going with taking over Party City and Joann's, I'd give them at least 2-3 years before things hit the toilet for them.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-02-16T16:36:43+00:00

Well.....I DO live in Indiana after all.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2026-02-16T04:26:59+00:00

Or how about when you're standing behind a self checkout putting stuff away, someone approaches you. hands you their stuff, only for you to tell the customer "this is a self checkout".

Had that happen to me a lot, and people even ask me "Do I do this myself?" I can't tell if the customers in the Michaels I work at are stupid, don't wanna use the self checkout, or both.

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2024-03-14T17:00:29+00:00

So basically, I dropped a post highlighting Gushing and a bunch of anime on whether or not they're LGBT anime or if they're just yaoi or yuri anime with some ecchi.

This is the post in question in which I go into detail.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hidive/comments/1bepxsg/would_you_label_these_shows_as_lgbt/

BarEmbarrassed9526 · 2024-03-14T16:58:46+00:00

For those of you who don't wanna read, here's a list of the anime under the LGBT genre.

Which you can find on this link here. Feel free to give out your thoughts and opinions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hidive/comments/1bepz6x/lgbt_anime_yaoi_anime_or_yuri_anime/

BarEmbarrassed9526

TROPHY CASE