Macy’s Employee Benefits

150 Macy’s Stores Are Closing. Here’s What That Means for Your Benefits.

Macy’s is in the middle of closing 150 stores by January 2027 under its “Bold New Chapter” restructuring. That’s 66 closures in 2025 alone, with 14 more announced for 2026. If you work at Macy’s right now, the question isn’t just “what benefits do I have?” It’s “how long will I have them?”

This guide covers the full benefits package and what to do if your store is on the closure list.

Step 1: Understand What You’re Eligible For

Macy’s Inc. operates three brands: Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury. Benefits apply across all three. Your eligibility depends on whether you’re classified as full-time, part-time, or seasonal.

1. Full-time associates: Eligible for the full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, disability, and paid time off
2. Part-time associates: Eligible for a reduced package. May include 401(k), the employee discount, EAP, and limited other benefits
3. Seasonal associates: Generally limited to the employee discount and legally required benefits. Seasonal workers are often “let go” without formal notice once the holiday season ends

If you’re not sure about your classification, check My Insite (hr.macys.net/insite/) or the Employee Connection portal (employeeconnection.net). Your 7-digit Employee ID is your login. For help, see the Macy’s login portals guide.

Step 2: Know Your Health Insurance Options

Full-time Macy’s associates have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance. Plans are managed through My Insite under the benefits section. Open enrollment happens annually in the fall.

Premiums at Macy’s are comparable to other department store retailers. With an average hourly wage around $14.68, the cost of health insurance premiums eats a larger percentage of take-home pay than at higher-paying retailers like Costco or Target. Compare plans carefully and factor in your expected medical usage for the year.

Macy’s offers multiple medical plan tiers. If you’re young, healthy, and mainly want coverage for emergencies, a high-deductible plan with lower premiums might make sense. If you take regular prescriptions or see specialists, a plan with higher premiums but lower copays could save you money overall. Run the math on both scenarios before choosing.

Dental and vision are separate elections with their own premiums. The EAP provides free counseling sessions for associates and family members regardless of enrollment in medical insurance. The EAP covers mental health, legal consultations, and financial advice, and you can use it from day one without waiting for health insurance eligibility.

If you’re working at Bloomingdale’s or Bluemercury rather than a Macy’s store, your insurance options are the same. All three brands fall under Macy’s Inc. for benefits purposes.

Step 3: Set Up Your 401(k)

Macy’s offers a 401(k) for eligible associates. The specific match structure is available through your plan documents in My Insite. Both full-time and part-time associates can enroll after meeting service requirements.

As with every retailer, contribute at least enough to get the full company match. At Macy’s pay levels, even a 3-5% contribution is meaningful over time, especially with compound growth and employer matching.

Step 4: Understand the Employee Discount (and the Credit Card Requirement)

The Macy’s employee discount is solid on paper: 20% off most items and 10% off electronics, furniture, mattresses, and rugs. During special events, you can get an extra 10%, bringing the total to 30%. The discount works at all Macy’s Inc. stores (Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, outlets) and online. Your spouse and dependents can use it too.

The catch that frustrates almost everyone: you must use a Macy’s credit card or Macy’s prepaid card to get the discount. You cannot pay with cash, debit, Visa, or Mastercard and receive the employee pricing. This means you either need to qualify for a Macy’s credit card or load a prepaid card before shopping.

For many hourly workers, opening a store credit card feels like an unnecessary risk. But without it, the discount is useless. This is the number one complaint about Macy’s benefits among associates.

Full details on the Macy’s employee discounts page.

Step 5: Use Payactiv for Early Wage Access

Macy’s partners with Payactiv to give associates access to up to 50% of earned wages before the regular payday. This can be a lifeline if you have an unexpected bill between pay periods.

Payactiv is a separate enrollment from your regular payroll. There are small fees per transaction, so it’s not free money. Use it when you need it, but don’t rely on it every pay cycle or the fees will add up. Some associates treat it as a regular income supplement, which undercuts the benefit. Think of it as an emergency tool rather than a payday schedule.

The feature is available to both full-time and part-time associates. You set it up through the Payactiv app, linked to your Macy’s employee account. The money comes from wages you’ve already earned, so it’s not a loan and doesn’t accrue interest.

Step 6: Use the Macy’s Discount Mall and Other Perks

Separate from your in-store employee discount, Macy’s offers a Discount Mall portal with deals on non-Macy’s brands. This includes travel, electronics, entertainment, and more. Access it through My Insite.

Other benefits that don’t get enough attention:

Flexible scheduling: Macy’s has moved toward more flexible scheduling for associates, especially part-time workers. This is partly a competitive response to other retailers and partly a recognition that many Macy’s associates hold second jobs or attend school.

Life insurance: Basic coverage at no cost for full-time associates. You can buy supplemental coverage during open enrollment.

Disability insurance: Short-term and long-term options for full-time associates.

Bereavement leave: Paid time off for loss of immediate family members.

PTO: Macy’s offers a flexible time-off approach for eligible associates. Accrual varies by tenure and classification. See the Macy’s PTO policies page for specifics.

What If Your Store Is Closing?

If your Macy’s location is on the closure list, here’s what to think about:

1. Health insurance: Your coverage typically ends at the end of the month in which your employment ends. After that, you’re eligible for COBRA continuation, but you’ll pay the full premium yourself
2. 401(k): Your balance is yours. Decide whether to roll it over, leave it, or cash out. See what happens to your 401(k) when you quit
3. Employee discount: Ends on your last day of employment
4. W-2: Former employee W-2s are available through TheWorkNumber.com. This is consistently the biggest complaint from ex-Macy’s employees. Get your access set up before you leave if possible
5. Transfer options: Ask your manager about transferring to another Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, or Bluemercury location. The company has said it will try to place affected associates at nearby stores

For more on post-employment benefits, see the Macy’s benefits after termination page. Contact 1-877-493-9207 for credit and benefits questions, or check the Macy’s HR contact guide. Visit the Macy’s hub page for all resources.