The roots of the Macy’s department store chain extend to the 1840s when Rowland Hussey Macy first got into the retail business. The original Macy’s store, located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, was a failure, but it gave Macy the business acumen to succeed later in his career. The beginning of Macy’s as it is known today came in 1858 when Macy founded R. H. Macy & Co. on Sixth Avenue in New York City.
That store was the start of a brand that today spans more than 600 retailers throughout the United States. In this post, we will explore some of the information you will want to know if you are thinking about working at Macy’s, including background checks at Macy’s and the retailer’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macy’s as an Employer
In 2019, Macy’s ranked at 120 on the Fortune 500, with $25.74 billion in revenue and 130,000 employees in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Jobs with the company include positions at stores, call centers, distribution centers, and corporate office buildings. Full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions are all available, ranging from cashier or store associate jobs to security to IT and beyond.Macy’s touts employee discounts, flexible schedules, competitive benefits and pay, and the chance to be a part of the Mary’s Thanksgiving Day Parade among its biggest draws as an employer.
Background Checks at Macy’s
Macy’s requires background checks for everyone it hires. Typically, background checks at Macy’s are executed on a conditional basis: the company interviews candidates and makes job offers based on qualifications and other factors. The background check is a post-offer step that all new hires must complete to finalize their employment.Macy’s reserves the right to rescind job offers based on background check findings, including criminal history that is related to the job at hand. For instance, for sale associates, Macy’s will usually be looking for past convictions that relate to theft. Other checks may also be required, including drug testing and work history verifications.
Macy’s and COVID-19
As COVID-19 shut down most of the economy in March and April, Macy’s adopted a new curbside pickup service to continue serving customers. That service has remained a part of the company’s operational strategy ever since—Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette views it as a “ secret weapon” for keeping Macy’s busy and profitable during the forthcoming holiday season. The availability of this service allows customers a socially distant option for shopping with Macy’s and helps cut down on contact and potential exposure among shoppers and staff.In addition to this new service, Macy’s has adopted other protocols aimed at establishing a safe workplace environment for employees and a safe shopping environment for customers. These practices include wellness checks of all employees before shifts, hand sanitizer stations throughout stores, mask requirements for all customers and staff, glove requirements for merchandise fulfillment and receiving teams, plexiglass shields at checkout, and temporary suspension of any services that demand close contact.
You can learn more about how Macy’s is approaching COVID-19 on this website.
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About Michael Klazema The author
Michael Klazema is the lead author and editor for Dallas-based backgroundchecks.com with a focus on human resource and employment screening developments
