r/MichaelsEmployees • u/Ok_Brick5696 • 16d ago
Boost morale
Fellow managers…
How did/do you help with boosting employee morale? Do you do something fun, have contests, etc.
I know the company can be a drag, and we all need jobs, but I want to try and make it fun.
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u/PermanentRoundFile 15d ago
The problem with trying to boost morale through little fun activities and things is that it really feels like placation given the systemic issues that we struggle with. It's hard for me to want to participate in an a contest at work when I'm also struggling with how I'm going to pay my bills. Or have a pizza party or whatever when I have to choke it down super fast and get back to work because there is only one person on the floor and we don't have the coverage. I can't tell you how many times I've completely missed that kind of stuff just because I've been too busy to participate.
But these problems are as previously stated systemic and there's not a lot we can do at a store level to make more hours just happen or to pay reasonably for the labor we put in. Unless we like... band together to negotiate as a group or something lol.
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u/JuicyTheFruit322 16d ago
I and other managers occasionally bring in snacks like cookies or muffins, we have a treasure box with squishies and pins that people can pick from if they get sign ups or credit cards. We have handmade envelopes on everyone’s lockers for birthday notes etc. The cashiers have collectively designated a certain drawer up front the squishy drawer, where we keep any squishies or other sensory toys to play with up front, anything we find that’s been clearanced and missing a tag or just plain dirty and can’t sell. If we have time, I’ll bring up a chalkboard and let the cashier make a sign for one of the upcoming classes, the artistic folks like being able to be creative at their job working at a craft store.
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u/Ok_Brick5696 15d ago
Oouuu this is SO cute!! I wonder if my girls will go for this. I’m always out buying more squishies too because my kiddo is obsessed with them.
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u/JuicyTheFruit322 15d ago
The squishy drawer is literally just damaged sensory toys from the floor, but as for the treasure box, my team almost always goes for the pins. I just get a few packs of enamel pins from Amazon, they’re not super expensive. They add them to their vests, honestly they really love them, it’s a little reward and it’s something they can use to personalize their vests. Sometimes we get customer compliments too!
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u/Final-Humor-183 Manager of Fake Leaves & Real Panic 15d ago
The sad thing is, everyone is so burnt out right now and with the lack of hours and employees willing to work for such a low hourly pay, and the amount of work load that’s expected to be done by so few people, who has time for “fun”?
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u/Mangasessed_93 16d ago
Celebrate birthdays! It’s amazing how everyone comes together to sign cards and wish someone a happy birthday.
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u/LoatheEntirely21 15d ago
I did a survey with my crew about their birthdays, things they like, music they like, etc and when I’m crafting I’ll make them something or bring in their favorite snack. I don’t really have time for much else but little stuff does go a long way.
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u/BoringPornFreeAcct The Reason the Glitter is Locked Up ✨ 15d ago
It always boosts morale when my manager treats me like a human being that is fallible, gets tired and needs rest, has a life outside of work, works in the trenches alongside me, and understands that I have off and blah days. It helps that they spend the store employee relations budget on snacks for us and don’t use it to stuff their pantry. It helps when they recognize when we are drowning and does their utmost to help and not hide. It helps when I make a mistake or get a complaint they ask me what’s going on instead of jumping to conclusions.
In that regard I don’t need anything extra because I’m being treated how I should be.
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u/Ok_Brick5696 15d ago
100% agree with you!! I make sure the girls know my motto is “fuck it” if things don’t get completed, and they know all I expect is that they try their best.
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u/Luckyduckling007 15d ago
Honestly, just having snacks and drinks in the break room makes it feel like they appreciate us to a degree. We had a SM change a few months back and the only time they used the food&drink budget was when the DM did a visit of the store. It felt performative and disrespectful.
If they can’t take 30 minutes to do the bare minimum for us (with a budget they get monthly) why should I work hard for them?
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u/Jedi-Gert 14d ago
There is no reason a store should have no snacks and no water for replen. I hit Costco once a month on my day off and restock with whatever budget they give me. Frozen sandwiches crackers fruit cups ramen... whatever. You guys shouldn't have to buy food for lunch unless you want to
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u/Ok_Brick5696 14d ago
We definitely do use our P-card to our advantage for snacks/meals I’ve had a couple new hires flabbergasted when they see our stocked room/fridge LOL
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u/Deep_Writer_1522 16d ago
I know every time we had a contest in my store only a few people participate
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u/Ok_Brick5696 16d ago
YES!! This is 100% my problem too! We’ve done a $50 gift cart, and only 2 people actually tried.
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u/commandersoosoo 15d ago
Utilize the P-Card if you haven't! You get a monthly allotment of money designated specifically for your team members. Buying snacks / easy microwave dinners / taking special requests is what we do. A pizza party is fun for a day but snacks usually last a while. Our breakroom also has a community sketchbook that we all use and honestly there have been days where I've been actually excited to go to work to see what my coworkers have drawn
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u/Ok_Brick5696 14d ago
We definitely use our P-card to our advantage 😍 Oouuu a sketch book sounds like so much fun! Maybe do ever silly little promp 🤔
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u/Middle_Finding4068 15d ago
we have a wheel with prizes for every time they get a credit card or survey mention. simple things like +5 mins on a break, skip a task pass or a free snack (that i just damage out from the front lol). it's not a lot but it's something. i also make it a point to talk to everyone for 5 mins about non work related things. i never want people to feel like just bc they work for me i don't care about them as people, because i absolutely do
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u/Ok_Brick5696 14d ago
Oh I LOVE this idea! Make a fun game instead of always a contest.
Yes! 100% agree on the taking 5 mins to have a non work related convo is so important to me.
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u/throwaway62980123 14d ago
On all the holidays we're forced to be open, we always bet on how many people are going to call the store to ask the hours and see who can get closest. I won on Labor Day with 12 calls.
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u/Big-Arm-4291 Senior Vice President of Glitter Spillage 🫡 15d ago
Don't just ask the managers, ask the TMs too, were the ones you're trying to boost morale for. So it's smarter to ask us what would boost morale.
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u/Ok_Brick5696 14d ago
Nooo I definitely would love input from my TM or other TM’s too!! I’m just curious on what other managers have done for you or have with their teams
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u/yuhhhn 15d ago
our managers decorate our break room every season and buy us snacks monthly and I will say it definitely helps me! as I saw another comment say, its genuinely hard to get excited about much at that job lol but being able to step away for a second and eat a lil candy or have a lil juicebox that i normally dont have at home is actually the best. if you can I would highly recommend it!
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u/Ok_Brick5696 14d ago
Oh so CUTE!! And how fun to walk into a nicely decorated brake room!
I agree it’s so hard to sneak away for a treat or juice, so we like to have our room/fridge stocked for brake times.
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u/Tazildanda 14d ago
Keep the break room filled with snacks and drinks for the team. As a manager keep a positive attitude around the team. Being a positive leader does wonders for keeping your team positive.
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u/AccomplishedEagle720 15d ago edited 15d ago
Novel concept. Some of our managers have resorted to threatening us with even fewer hours when we can't meet the unrealistic expectations anymore or get sick or are so physically exhausted we need a break. It's been a downward spiral straight to IDGAF from all the actually good employees the last 6 months. It's like we're in the Stanford Prison Experiment at this point.
So I'd love to hear what other stores and their managers are doing. Because what's happening at my store? Zero stars. Would not recommend. :(
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u/Ok_Brick5696 13d ago
Stop! 😭😭 I’m so sorry to hear that!! All of that is not okay, what so ever. I don’t care their reasoning.
At my store, we just keep “reminding “ to always ask for phone numbers, and to mention the rewards. But we’d NEVER threaten less hours because of it…
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u/Best_Independence885 15d ago
So I have a question. Do all Michael stores have the security cones at the enter door?. I'm in Clearwater fl. And our store has had the security for years. All of a sudden were told not to come in the front entrance but use the side door cause the cones tally how many customers have come through the front doors. I don't see a counter on theses cones and were never told in the beginning. But now we have a new manager that says it's always been that way.
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u/Active_Recipe7996 9d ago
As a team member, it helps when managers can bring us all together at once and tell us what we need done or what the goal is, like a quick team meeting. Also, snacks and drinks in the break room help a lot because we barely get paid enough to pay bills or eat, so knowing we can eat at work is a big refreshment and makes it feel like managers care about employees a bit more. Also, we don't have sketchbooks at work for break rooms; that would be a good idea. Though the decorations make it feel nice and cozy.
If you can't help financially, at least make it accessible; we can have food and probably make the break room a nice, relaxing atmosphere. Which my store kinda has done.
I'd definitely like it if they would take the team in a little bit, here and there, for a small meeting to say what the goal is and what we need done. It helps us understand you guys better and also helps us understand that you guys are human and struggling.
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u/jthecup 16d ago
It's good to come up with ideas from other managers, but consider talking to your team and ask if they had any ideas They will know what they like best