In leaked memo, Michaels executives refuse to close stores and tell employees they must be 'here for the makers' amid the coronavirus
Bethany Biron 3/24/2020

Michaels is staying open amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

In a memo sent to Michaels employees and obtained by Business Insider, Michaels executives wrote that the craft store will stay open as an "essential" business that is "here for the makers." 

Though a Michaels spokesperson said the craft store has temporarily closed in select states with strict mandates like New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, among others, the chain still has hundreds of open stores across the country. 

"I am asked on a daily basis by customers why we are still open," a Michaels manager speaking on the condition of anonymity told Business Insider. "We ask ourselves the same thing. We clearly aren't important to our CEO. He is putting his hardworking employees and customers are risk. "

As retailers around the country close their doors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Michaels is remaining open by claiming the craft store is an "essential" business that is "here for the makers."

In a memo sent to Michaels employees on March 19 and obtained by Business Insider, outgoing CEO Mark Cosby and incoming CEO Ashley Buchanan wrote that stores will stay open and deemed its employees "an essential workforce" during the pandemic The executives wrote its stores are "fundamental" to serving business owners, teachers, parents, and communities "looking to take their minds off a stressful reality."

"Please know that even though our doors remain open, we understand that you may not be comfortable coming into the stores," they wrote, though did not state whether the company would offer sick pay or benefits in the case of illness.

Though the definition of essential versus nonessential varies depending on state, craft stores are not on the list of businesses universally considered to be essential, nor are they included in a guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

According to a spokesperson, Michaels has temporarily closed stores in the states of California, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as select locations in Canada and in the cities of Miami and Fort Worth. Each of these locations has issued strict mandates regarding the closure of nonessential businesses or implemented safety precautions like "shelter-in-place" mandates.

Still, this leaves hundreds of Michaels stores remaining in operation across the US. It also comes in tandem with competitor Hobby Lobby also continuing to remain open, after executives at Hobby Lobby sent a memo to managers stating they would "make every effort to continue working the employee."

In the Michaels memo, the executives appear to further justify the company's decision to stay open due to its status as a UPS Access Point, writing that stores serve as "key shipping services to the public and are considered a reliable alternative to other shipping companies and locations."

However, UPS said on its website that many of its standalone pickup and drop off locations like the UPS Store will remain open and acknowledged that "some businesses that serve as UPS Access Point locations are closing or adjusting their operations due to the coronavirus."

In response to request to comment on the decision to remain open, the Michaels spokesperson reiterated the company's partnership with UPS and said the stores will continue to make an effort "to support and remain a lifeline for the teachers, parents and small businesses."

"For the stores that remain open, we are sanitizing heavily trafficked and hard surfaces frequently and encouraging social distancing," the spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. "We strongly encourage our Team Members that are not comfortable working in our stores or facilities to speak to their managers about their options."

However, a Michaels manager in the Midwest — who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her job and whose employment status was confirmed by Business Insider — said employees at her store have not been provided with adequate protections like hand sanitizer and that cleaning supplies "are scarce."

"I am asked on a daily basis by customers why we are still open," she told Business Insider in an email. "We ask ourselves the same thing. We clearly aren't important to our CEO. He is putting his hardworking employees and customers are risk. "

The employee said many of her colleagues skew older and some have underlying health conditions that make them especially vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus, but they continue to work out of fear of losing their jobs.

"I am so worried for my coworkers," she said. "If I get sick I will likely recover without incident. My coworkers and other vulnerable people could die. We are expendable. Just a means to make money."
Read the full memo, below:

Michaels Memo


A Letter from Mark and Ashley: 03.19.2020

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has placed the U.S. and the world in an unprecedented situation. As the country's largest arts and crafts retailer, we are here for the makers.
The small business owners that rely on us for their online and storefront business needs.
The teachers and parents that rely on our products to reach classes virtually, in the home or other locales.
The communities looking to take their minds off a stressful reality, even if temporarily.

Our stores are designated UPS access points, which means we provide key shipping services to the public and are considered a reliable alternative to other shipping companies and locations.

The products we sell, the services we provide and the businesses we support make us an essential workforce and are fundamental in our decision to remain open.

Our leadership team strives to make decisions that balance the safety of our Team Members with our commitments to our customers and communities. We will continue to follow all CDC and government guidelines and will make business changes when needed.

Please know that even though our doors remain open, we understand that you may not be comfortable coming into the stores. If that's the case, we encourage you to talk to your Store Manager about your concerns and your options. For any other questions, please call Team Member Services at 855-432-6543 (MIKE) option 2.

For those who continue to work, we have provided guidelines and detailed and updated information to all Stores Managers and District Managers on how to keep yourselves and our customers healthy and safe. This information can be found in your break rooms or back offices.

Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for Michaels.

Take care of yourself and each other.

Mark and Ashley