Category: Live
Leave of Absence (LOA)
Types of Leave & How to Request LeaveRequesting Leave
Michaels offers Leave of Absence (LOA) as well as Paid Time Off (PTO). To learn about the types of leave and PTO available to you and when/how to apply, refer to the resources on this page. If you need further guidance, contact Team Member Services.
PTO vs. Leave
Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Time Off (PTO) includes vacation time, personal time, and sick time. For more detailed information and to read the Michaels PTO policies, visit this link: Paid Time Off (PTO).
Leave of Absence (LOA)
- You must request a Leave of Absence (LOA) if you are going to be absent from work for more than five (5) consecutive working days due to a personal, medical, or other reason. Read the Michaels Leave of Absence (LOA) Guide for more detailed information.
- You cannot apply for a leave more than 30 days in advance.
- To apply for LOA, call Reliance Matrix at 1-888-288-1354. You will be asked to provide your personal or job-related illness or injury, along with your medical provider information.
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Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
All full-time exempt Team Members are eligible for Paid Parental Leave (PPL) to support families after the birth, adoption, surrogacy, or legal placement of a child.
The PPL policy, linked below, covers birthing mothers and all eligible non-birthing parents, including dads and domestic partners.
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability (STD & LTD)
To receive Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits, you must be unable to perform the essential duties of your job due to accidental injury, sickness, mental illness, or pregnancy. Long-Term Disability (LTD) provides income protection if you become disabled and cannot work due to an illness or injury that lasts for more than 90 days.
Important: Leave and Disability claims are approved separately by Matrix. If your LOA claim is approved, this does not automatically mean that your STD/LTD claim has been approved.
Video Overview of Leave, Disability & Voluntary Benefits
Get Support
For assistance, contact Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453) and select option 2, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. You can also open a Knowledge Zone support ticket.
File Your Claim(s) Online with Reliance Matrix
Guidance for Filing Claims with Reliance Matrix
How-To Guides
- Easy Access Claims Filing - Process flow overview for filing claims with Reliance Matrix.
- Filing Claims with Reliance Matrix - Applies to Leave of Absence (LOA), Disability, and Voluntary benefits.
- How to File Claims for Short-Term Disability (STD) & Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA)
- How to File Claims for Voluntary Accident, Hospital Indemnity & Critical Illness
- Download the Matrix eServices App
Important Note About Claims for Kaiser Members
Team Members who are enrolled in a Kaiser medical plan must complete an authorization release form in order to file a claim with Reliance Matrix.
- Reliance Matrix will provide you with the authorization release form to sign and return.
- This form is required in order for Reliance Matrix to obtain the required medical certification from your physician.
- Failure to provide the signed authorization release form to Reliance Matrix will result in your claim being denied.
Resources
Reliance Matrix
Disability, Life & AD&D, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Contact Information
Phone: 1-800-351-7500
Quick Links
Life Events & Updating Your Benefits
Changes in Status Due to Qualifying Life EventsUpdating Your Benefits After Life Events
Generally, you are only allowed to update your benefit elections when you first become eligible and during the annual open enrollment period. Life happens, however, and sometimes you will need to make changes to your benefits by requesting a change in status.
What Qualifies as a Life Event?
The life events listed below are considered qualifying life events.
- Change in employment status, such as part-time to full-time Team Member (31 days to enroll)
- Death of a family member
- Birth/adoption of child
- Marriage
- Divorce/legal separation
- Gain/loss of other coverage for you or a dependent
- Beginning/end of domestic partnership relationship
How to Request a Change in Status
If you experience a qualifying life event as defined on this page, you will have 30 days following the date of the life event to make changes to your benefit elections, and this change in status must be consistent with the life event.
To request changes to your benefits outside of the open enrollment period due to a qualifying life event, you must log in to Workday and complete the Qualifying Life Event Form within 30 days of the life event to avoid paying retroactive premiums.
Some documentation may be required with your request. Acceptable forms of documentation may be a marriage certificate, divorce decree, benefit confirmation statement with dates, employer letter with dates, etc.
Dependent Verification Audit
If you are adding a dependent to your medical and/or dental coverage, our third-party vendor, Consova, will contact you directly to conduct a dependent eligibility audit. This audit must be completed in order for your dependent(s) to be verified as eligible for the Michaels plan(s).
For more information about dependent eligibility requirements, visit this link: Eligibility.
Helpful Resources
Grief Counseling Resources for Navigating the Loss of a Loved One
Pregnancy & Adoption Resources
Employment Status Change
If your employment status is changing from part-time to full-time, or from full-time to part-time, you’ll have different Michaels benefit options. Follow the link below for more detailed information about this life event.
Get Support
For assistance, contact Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453) and select option 2, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. You can also open a Knowledge Zone support ticket.
How to Enroll
Your Guide for Completing Online EnrollmentBenefits Enrollment Guide
This enrollment overview is meant to point you in the direction of how to use this website to locate detailed information about your benefit options, how to enroll in coverage, and the many resources and programs available to you.
If you prefer to review your benefit options all in one place, you can use the links below to download a print-friendly PDF version of the Benefits Enrollment Guide, available in English and Spanish.
Choose Wisely — No Changes After Enrolling!
Changes to your benefit elections are only allowed outside of the open enrollment period if you have a qualifying life event, such as a birth, adoption, marriage, or divorce. Changes in status must be made within 30 days of the qualifying life event. For more information, follow this link: Change in Status.
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Determine Who is Eligible
Make sure you know who you can cover under your Michaels benefits by reviewing the eligibility requirements.
- Most plans provide coverage for eligible dependents; if you need to cover family members, you can determine who is eligible.
- Remember, your spouse or domestic partner cannot be covered by a Michaels medical plan if full-time medical coverage is available through his/her employer.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Eligibility & Enrolling > Eligibility.
Compare the Plan Options
Make sure to compare all available benefit plans so that you can choose the right coverage for you and your family. Remember, if you don’t enroll, you will not have coverage.
In addition, full-time Team Members can use the free eValuate tool for guidance when choosing a medical plan.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits and locate the benefit information you are seeking.
Consider Life Insurance & Name Your Beneficiaries
Determine how much Life Insurance coverage you need to protect yourself and those you love. Your beneficiaries are managed in Workday, and you can change your designation at any time.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Financial Security > Life & AD&D Insurance.
Consider Disability Coverage
Disability coverage is an important benefit that ensures you will receive a portion of your paycheck in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Salaried Team Members, when eligible, are automatically enrolled in Disability coverage.
- If you’re an hourly Team Member, you can decide whether you need Disability coverage.
- Short-Term Disability (STD) coverage is not available in California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, or Washington.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Leave of Absence (LOA).
Add up FSA Savings
You may want to take advantage of the tax-savings of one or more Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). If you want to have a flexible spending account (FSA), you must enroll each year. Your FSA elections from the previous year will not roll over.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Health & Wellness > Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Review & Elect Voluntary Benefits
You can enroll in voluntary benefits such as Optional Life and AD&D for you and your dependent(s), Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, and Pet Health Insurance.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Financial Security.
Save on Wellness & Tobacco Surcharges
You can avoid surcharges and higher premiums for medical coverage by fulfilling the wellness exam requirement and qualifying as tobacco-free.
To learn more, use the navigation menu to go to Benefits > Health & Wellness > Wellness Programs & Surcharges.
Reminder for New Hires: Your Michaels coverage begins on the first day of the month, after you complete 30 days of service, when you enroll within 30 days of your date of hire. Visit the New Hire Hub to determine your enrollment deadline and benefits effective date.
Begin Enrollment
Log in to Workday
Benefits at a Glance
Know Where to Go for Answers
Call Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453), option 2, or submit a ticket through the Knowledge Zone.
Michaels Benefits
Locate Benefits Information Using the Menu AboveMichaels Benefits
Locate Benefits Information Using the Menu AboveEligibility
Eligibility Requirements for Full-Time Team Members & DependentsWho You Can Enroll
You can enroll yourself and your dependent(s) in most benefit plans, but in order to do so, you and your dependent(s) must meet the eligibility requirements. Please note that Michaels conducts an eligibility review of enrolled dependents and you will be required to provide further documentation.
Your Eligibility
If you’re a full-time Team Member – If you’re a full-time Team Member working an average of 30 hours or more per week, your eligibility begins on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.
If you change from part-time to full-time – Your eligibility begins on the first day of the month following the status change, as long as you have completed 30 days of service.
If you change from part-time to full-time on June 10, you are eligible for coverage on July 1, if you have already completed 30 days of service as a part-time Team Member.
Dependent Eligibility
You may also enroll eligible dependents. Refer to the information below for more information.
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Your Legal Spouse
A spouse may not enroll in a Michaels medical plan if they have other full-time coverage available through their employer, unless they are enrolled in the Enhanced PPO plan.
A spouse who is retired, self-employed, or on Medicaid/Medicare is eligible for ALL Michaels medical plans.
Domestic Partner/Domestic Partner Children
A domestic partner may not enroll in a Michaels medical plan if they have other full-time coverage available through their employer, unless they are enrolled in the Enhanced PPO plan.
A domestic partner who is retired, self-employed or on Medicaid/Medicare is eligible for ALL Michaels medical plans.
For more information, please refer to the information below.
Important Notes:
- You are required to pay taxes on the value of domestic partner benefits.
- Your domestic partner’s child(ren) can only be enrolled if your domestic partner is also enrolled in Michaels benefits.
Children of Any Age who are Physically or Mentally Unable to Care for Themselves
You may be asked to provide proof of your child’s disability.
Children Under 26 Years of Age
Coverage is available for children under 26 years of age if they are your natural children, stepchildren, legally adopted children, foster children, or children for whom you have legal custody or court-appointed guardianship.
Dependent Eligibility Verificaiton
You will receive instructions from Consova, Michaels third-party partner, on how to verify your dependents’ eligibility to participate in our plans. As part of the verification process, you will be asked to provide documentation for your new dependent, such as a birth certificate, court order, or marriage license.
Next Step:
Benefits Contacts
Get Assistance from Your Benefit Providers
2nd.MD
Virtual Health Care & Telehealth for BCBSTX Members
Contact Information
Phone: 1-866-841-2575
Quick Links
Advancial Federal Credit Union
Benefit Extras & Discounts
Contact Information
Phone: 1-800-322-2709
Quick Links
Aetna Resources for Living EAP
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Contact Information
Phone:Â 1-800-283-5645
Quick Links
Username: Michaels
Access Code: 8002835645
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)
Camp Gladiator
Catapult Health
Virtual Checkup
Contact Information
Phone: 855-509-1211 (Available Mon. - Fri. from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT)
Quick Links
Cigna
Consova
Dependent Eligibility Verification
Contact Information
Phone: 855-261-6217
Quick Links
Corporate America Family Credit Union (CAFCU)
Employment Verification
EyeMed
Vision Coverage
Contact Information
General Inquiries: 866-723-0596
LASIK: 1-800-988-4221
Quick Links
Health Equity
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)
Contact Information
HSA: 866-346-5800
FSA: 1-877-924-3967
Quick Links
Hinge Health
BCBSTX Exercise Therapy Program
Contact Information
Phone: 1-855-902-2777
Quick Links
HUSK Marketplace
Kaiser Permanente
Medical Insurance & Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
Contact Information
Phone: 1-800-464-4000 (TTY 711)
Quick Links
KinderCare Learning Centers
Lantern
BCBSTX Surgical Care Coverage Program (Formerly Surgery Plus)
Contact Information
Phone: 855-204-3922
Quick Links
MDLIVE
Virtual Care/Telehealth (BCBSTX Only)
Contact Information
Phone: 1-888-680-8646
Quick Links
PerkSpot
Prime Therapeutics
Reliance Matrix
Disability, Life & AD&D, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Contact Information
Phone: 1-800-351-7500
Quick Links
Supportiv
Taben Group
COBRA & Leave of Absence (LOA) Premium Billing
Contact Information
Phone: 800-675-7341
Quick Links
Team Member Services
HR, Payroll, Benefits & Open Enrollment
Contact Information
Phone: 1-855-432-MIKE (6453)
Voya Financial
Wishbone Pet Benefit Solutions
Workday
Payroll, HR, & Benefits (Qualifying Life Events & Open Enrollment)
Open Now: Update Your Benefits During Open Enrollment
The Open Enrollment period is May 12-23, 2025 for the new benefits plan year effective July 1, 2025. Use the links below to review what’s changing and to determine what actions you’ll need to take.
Team Member Resources
Open Enrollment Guide
Ready to Enroll?
Catapult Health VirtualCheckup®
Michaels provides a convenient annual checkup at no cost to you using the Catapult Health VirtualCheckup® Home Kit. All Team Members and spouses covered by a BCBSTX medical plan can register for a kit.
Are You a New Hire?
Welcome! We’re excited you’re joining the Michaels team. To start you off on the right foot, we want to make the process of setting up your employee benefits as easy as possible. Follow the link below to access the New Hire Hub and review your next steps.
Quick Links to Benefits
Are You a New Hire?
Welcome! We’re excited you’re joining the Michaels team. To start you off on the right foot, we want to make the process of setting up your employee benefits as easy as possible. Follow the link below to access the New Hire Hub and review your next steps.
Are Your Hours Changing?
If you are switching from full-time to part-time status, or vice versa, follow the link below to learn about how this Change in Status will impact your benefits.
Get the latest from Michaels
As a Michaels employee, you can sign up to receive updates about your benefits via text message. Get connected today!
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Heads up! Some information on this website will change with the new plan year. Use these checkboxes to show information for one or both plan years.