kitchen helper

housekeeper

server

cook

sous chef

Holiday by Atria

This place doesn't even deserve 1 star, but it was my only option.

A typical day of work consisted of answering the phone at the front desk (didn't mind until realized that's all that was being done instead of activities) and occasionally getting to do activities (What was thought was hired to do). Felt afraid to fess up though and fear of losing job.

What I learned: You can't trust anyone at this place, especially in upper management.Too many people work there that are a conflict of interest to each other but won't take care of it. Over worked, under paid, was hired for one job but had to do many other jobs as well that paid more but didn't receive more pay for doing them, lots of drama, and favoritism. Had to do job of 2 for pay of 1. If you are a hard worker and don't complain, they will take advantage of you for sure while lazy, brownnosed workers get away with everything, even getting what ever day off they want.Manager would try to make it felt that I was part of the upper management team(told I could close a couple nights for more "responsibility and experience"), but wasn't getting paid upper management salary and unfortunately found out they just didn't want to help out. Kept making promises they couldn't keep. Positions were constantly being turned over, jobs constantly threatened almost every week "if you cant get the job done then we will be glad to find someone who can" speech.On top of being extremely stressed, management micro-manages you every step of the way. 
I write this as an honest warning because I would have liked to have been warned before accepting this type of position in this industry. Very high expectations. 

Workplace culture: Manager said one thing and would mean another. Never knew if I was doing my job or someone elses due to too many call offs or being short-staffed. Other managers had priorities over others- nepotism at its finest.

The hardest part of this job was realizing that the managers could care less about the residents needs, employees getting away with things you normally wouldn't get away with at a normal institution, always relying on servers/housekeepers/activities to cover shifts because they didn't want to help chip in.No training as promised upon hire, you sign yourself up for one position but then are assigned and bounded with all others. The turn over is by far one of the WORST! From top of the food chain all the way to the very bottom.NO security at night and no cameras within the community at all!

The most enjoyable part of this job was the residents and seeing them smile every day. Building  relationships with the residents and their families was meaningful. I pray for them still to this day for their safety, health, and over all well-being. They made it worth it to show up and spend time with them.

This job started off in the very beginning to be something enjoyed very much. Then, towards the end,  the management actually almost drove me insane and surprised me at how inconsiderate and backstabbing they were. Lazy, self-centered, and backstabbing managers who set you up to fail and won't give a care how much they belittle you as long as they are always right or have their butts covered.The manager says one thing and means another, will pretend to know everything while knowing nothing, spends most of  time on phone or goofing off with family members who visit periodically 2-3 times a week instead of getting constructive work done, leaves early without an explanation to anyone besides upper management, managers seem to be the only ones who can leave when they feel like it, never listens when you talk, and whenever something goes wrong is quick to put it on you and make you feel less of a person. Management doesn't want to actually work. Instead, they delegate their duties to staff or activities so they can sit around and do nothing. Activities director didn't even get to do many activities due to serving/doing others jobs or being understaffed and overworked.

God bless those residents!

This experience is going to be an excellent chapter in a book I am writing about horrible people and the death of decency in America today.  Where oh where do I start?

1. Three CEOs in 4 months.  Yeah, you read that right: 4 months.

2. Recently installed CEO went from "interim CEO" to CEO" with absolutely no notice to the employees of the company.

3. Management is through fear, intimidation and threats.  And bagel throwing.  The CEO recently was angered by a co-worker and threw a bagel at her.  He was COO at the time, so the obvious response was to elevate him to the top position at the company!  This was not the first time he has thrown something at a co-worker, and despite his recent letters of apology to two people in the company who he has abused, it won't be the last.  Can you say "anger management?"

4. You know the term "revolving door" as it applies to turnover?  Well, revolving door doesn't even begin to describe the turnover in the field and in the home office.  I guess revolving door would work, but you'd have to be picturing the revolving door in the Superman movie that goes around at about 100 miles per hour as he changes from Clark Kent into his tights.

5. The CEO, despite his efforts to appear terrifying and powerful, is weak and impotent in reality, as the company is controlled by a hedge fund manager who cares only about $$ - not about residents, not about employees, just the almighty dollar.  Fortress bought the company at a highly inflated price right before the crash, and their goal is to take it public and recoup their investment.  Good luck with that (see #4 and refer to your basics in due diligence re: senior management).

6. The new CLO was a ten year associate at an LA firm before being hired by Holiday.  A ten year associate.  I'd never heard of one of those before.  Good choice!  Of course, his family hasn't moved to Portland, so who knows how long he is going to be around...

7. Speaking of that, the new head of HR recently moved back home to Denver and took the only two personal items in his office with him.  Hmmm...no trouble there.  Nothing to see ma'am, move along.

8. See class action lawsuits.

9. Everyone who works there who is a decent, intelligent person is constantly scouring the internet looking for another job.  You want to see how dedicated your people are to you?  Look at their desk.  If they don't have a picture of their kids somewhere in their work space, they are looking to leave.  I have never seen more offices devoid of personal effects than I have at Holiday.

10. The only conditions under which I'd recommend someone take a job at this company is if they were completely broke and could no longer afford housing and food for their children.  No wait, I take that back.  I'd live under a bridge with my kids and cats before working there again.

Want to work for Holiday Retirement???? Well the truth is this. Holiday Retirement used to be a great company to work for. Managers lived on site, couple teams ran the building and was able to interact with the residents and build strong bonds. Upper management cared deeply for its employees and promoted success. Communities thrived.  

THOSE DAYS ARE DEFINITELY OVER...
. 
Holiday has a VERY high turnover rate for all staff at all levels, but especially in the Management roles due to micro managing, lack of leadership support and very high stress. Upper management gives the direction and blames everyone else for its failures. 

This review is really a summary of a large numbers of people who currently or previously worked for Holiday. Below are some of the highlights from feedback and experiences in the roles I have held over the years. 

 Management: 

You WILL be told how to run "your business", you WILL be micro-managed. You WILL be overworked and over stressed. You WILL have upper management throw you under the bus. You WILL feel under appreciated. You WILL experience shady practices by upper management ( especially RDO's ) You WILL feel powerless and inconsequential. You WILL be lied to or misled often. You WILL be blamed for poor company directions. You WILL be harassed each month. You WILL be hung out to dry. You WILL do sales at all cost, even if it takes away from the residents.
 Sadly, most WILL put up with it because they bond with the residents and feel you need to be the shield that protects them from all the injustice both above and below. Believe me, this fact is the only reason nearly all of the current staff is still working for Holiday. 

Could list the feedback for other management positions, but a lot of it is redundant, only exception is there is almost NO accountability placed on positions above the community level. RDO / RSL are rarely or NEVER disciplined for poor unethical behavior and horrible treatment of employees. Most new RDO's have created such a hostile environment that most high quality people have left or are leaving. 

Bottom line: 

Over those years. Have witnessed many great mentors, peers leave due to poor leadership and bias treatment. Have witnessed many very poor leaders in positions they had no business being in. It has got much worse over the last couple of years and foreseeable future. Have witnessed the decline of Holiday for all the reasons above. Regardless of what they advertise or tell everyone today, it is only about money and maximize revenue before they move or pass on. 0% compassion for residents or their families. Feel so bad for the residents living there nowadays. 
 
Hope this helps you make an intelligent decision about your future.

I am currently one of the Co-Managers at Woodlands Village, which is an Independent and Assistant Living Community in Bradenton, Florida, owned and operated by Holiday Retirement.
The details of my current position cover a multitude of categories. I’ve been trained to handle many different situations. Whether it is handling a situation with a current resident, a resident’s family member or P.O.A., or helping a future resident get acclimated to the community, I am well equipped to find the best way to be of service.
Regarding operations, I’ve been trained on billing, time keeping through the Kronos system, scheduling of staff, training and accountability of associates, as well as dealing with emergency calls and deescalating situations before they become emergencies. I also handle contracts and sales through the InTouch computer program. Sales come naturally to me. I enjoy walking families through the entire process, discussing care options, selecting the perfect apartment, and getting to know them on a personal level. I also set up evaluations for the Director of Nursing or the A.L. Administrator/Resident Care Director, so they can properly assess the prospective resident.
On a daily basis, I handle situations that residents bring to my attention. This covers everything from issues involving maintenance, billing, safety, and beyond. Part of what I love about my job is that every day brings something unique.  
One of my specialties at Woodlands Village is resident relations. I am extremely outgoing, with exceptional communication skills. I feel that those two qualities are important in this industry. I’ve been told that I have a calm, welcoming demeanor and am very approachable. 
I love to learn new things and to help people. I get an overwhelming satisfaction with helping seniors, mainly because of my relationship with my father. He was paralyzed after several strokes, and for 7 years, I was his primary caregiver. What I love most about my current position is my day-to-day interaction with people. It is what I was put on this earth to do.
The reason I am looking for a new position with a different company is simple. My wife and I are about to have our first baby. Our current position is community live in Co-Managers, which consist of three over-night on-call shifts. With a new baby on the way, the schedule is not in our family’s best interest, as we prepare for our wonderful new addition. That is the main and the only reason I am looking for a new position in this industry. This way my wife can stay home and raise our first born child.

I worked at Holiday Retirement two different times.  I enjoyed working there because of the residents and the management that was there during my time of employment.  I left after being offered a better paying job with better hours.  I missed the residents so much and was so emotional every day missing them that I decided to go back to work there after receiving a call from one the the GM's I had worked for there previously.

I started back enjoying what I did.  I enjoyed working with my GM, felt appreciated and loved by staff and residents alike.  Not too long after returning, my GM was let go and a new GM came in.  It was obvious and apparent from the beginning the new GM wanted a staff that they had "brought in" themselves.  This meant none of us previous employees "fit" what the new GM was looking for.

There were many things that started to happen once the new GM took over that were not company policy.  And we were clearly asked to lie to our AM/DM about certain things.  One thing that stands out in my mind is our morning meetings(Take 10's)that we were supposed to have daily were not happening AT ALL.  We were specifically told when our AM/DM was going to be at our location to flat out lie and tell them that these morning meetings(Take 10's)were taking place.  I can honestly say that we had not had even one since our new GM had started.  And same goes for our weekly Leadership Meetings.  Not one time did a weekly Leadership Meeting happen once our new GM had started.  And again, we were flat out asked to lie to our AM/DM about that.  There were also at least two times that I would show up at work at 9am and NO ONE was in the office at all!  The GM that was supposed to be there at 7 30am to open was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!  

I tried to let our AM/DM know these important meetings were not happening.  Not only did it fall on deaf ears, but honestly calls and emails to the AM/DM were not even returned.

One last thing I will say.  I gave my heart and soul to this place.  Stayed late most days and came in early and on my days off when needed.  I loved the residents like they were my own parents/grandparents.  I left work every single day happy because of the relationships formed with the residents and the sense of pride in making their life happier because of the type of relationships that I formed with them and their families.  At the same time though, I left every single day dog tired, and no feeling of appreciation from my GM, AT ALL EVER!

This organization is completely, 100% focused on occupancy.  There is no discussion of ways to enhance the lives of our seniors, no sharing of best practices, no actual delivery of the compassion the company claims to embrace.  This organization will fight you tooth and nail about move-outs, even in cases of extreme dementia and higher care needs.  You WILL be expected to retain as many of these people as possible, at the expense of the quality of life of those whose mental capacities remain sharp.

Rest assured that senior leadership directs the Community Management Team (CMT) to spend as much time as possible every day every day making sales calls, conducting tours, and signing leases.  It is disappointing to learn how little care actually is given to the elders who populate these communities and pay the freight.  Our regional manager was, without question, the worst boss I have ever had the misfortune to work for.  I believe that most of the folks above the community level are cut from the same cloth, so the prospect of moving up in this company makes me physically ill.

My wife and I are college-educated professionals with strong management chops.  We built a culture of compliance in our community and had incredibly high morale combined with low turnover.  The community was profitable and the residents were happy (well, most of them, anyway!).  Our team was first-rate and we enjoyed our time with them.  

This new management model (GM - AGM - OM) should eventually lend itself to better opportunities for associates to move up.  One of the biggest problems with Holiday is that most of the regional managers have never worked in the CMT; they are completely clueless about what actually happens on a day-to-day basis in these properties.  Furthermore, since the regionals truly have no idea, you WILL be told that any problem you encounter is one you have made for yourself.  

Consider yourself warned, this is not a good company to work for.  What they claim to be (compassionate, value-driven, and forward thinking) is an absolute sham.  They only value the residents when the checks are cashed.  

In closing, please think twice before you consider employment at a Holiday property.

Being a manager at Holiday is fast paced. A lot of things to do in a day and some days you go home thinking about all the things you still have left. But i have never been in a manager position where that wasn't the case.

It is funny to look at the reviews because they make claims that are not necessarily untrue but not given the full background. Is there a model that has eliminated the AGM position and replaced it with a Business Office Manager? Yes. but it is through natural attrition And it is up the the community to choose that model based what the General manager feels best is for the community.
Did Holiday change there management labor model? Yes. but it is now a labor model that is better for Work/life balance, path for job advancement, and more. I have worked in both models and would hands downs pick the current model over living onsite and answering multiple calls through the night (at least 2 per night). 
Is there Job advancement opportunities? Yes. but it depends on your situation. I have been with the company for over 5 years. i have been in 4 positions during that time . You have to be flexible and give results. It seems just because people were "next in line" for the position they wanted they assumed they would get it. When in reality they were not showing results to get them to that next position. 
Is it Sales heavy? Yes .Isn't every company? As a part of management you are responsible for the outcome of the business you are helping to run.  Of course your direct managers are going to expect you to make those numbers. 

Holiday is a great company. They have amazing benefits. You truly feel like you are doing something great for seniors. Everyday i get to know amazing people with amazing stories. They have good leadership that is willing to hear you out. I have called and spoken to VPs, Regional members,  and Executive level member to talk about a policy or program i am not 100% on board with. They hear you out and they will take the time to explain without condescending you. Most companies do not have an open dialogue like that.  

People that are on here complaining are ones that aren't here and weren't here for very long. If you really want to know what the job is like go into a community and see it for yourself.

Worked in housekeeping at holiday Retirement's Redbud Hills facility in Bloomington, Indiana. Horrible work environment! 
Have a sick child/yourself/spouse you need a day or two to care for? Expect to be wrote up or some other form of punishment. Yes you have sick time but it's frowned upon to use them.
They say leave everything going on at home at the door. Management should do the same for it also effects their work performance.
Clean 8apts a day including washing linens, serving 2 meals and cleaning your common areas. If not completed they claim residents apts not finished for "that day" is a breech of contract. You get wrote up or some other form of punishment.
The amount of gossip, backstabbing and sneakiness of management is unbelievable. Like to take and twist your words for their gain.
Hired in an unqualified person(due to a felony charge "but has a letter from a judge) however Company has strict background checks in place. Person with a DUI can't even work for the company! But made said person person head housekeeper after 3 months claimed to other housekeepers "absences were an issue". Correction other housekeepers didn't work on weekends nor were allowed overtime. But unqualified person worked many hours over weekends and did many favors for personal gain. Therefore obviously, favorism is another issue.
Facility function basically would be crippled without the housekeepers, and kitchen helpers yet employees under these titles are treated as second class. You can not advance to higher positions in this facility. 

And sadly with all these issues the residents are the ones who suffer. 99% of the residents love the staff that they see working so hard everyday and seeing how said staff is treated.

My advice is the $9 an hour they are advertising is not in any way shape or form enough! Hired in at $9.75 and it wasn't enough! Therefore just steer clear of this facility! If not well best of luck!

Filthy roach infested facility with fecal matter on walls in some areas.
Management is terrible. No consistancy with the schedule. You never know from week to week what your days off are going to be and God forbid you ask for two days in a row off. Out of spite you may end up losing more shifts if you inquire about the schedule or if you call in sick.
The residents are great however their are several residents who are total care and cannot do anything on there own. It becomes difficult to properly take care of the residents who require total assistance when there are NO mechanical aides to help. Chronic back pain goes along with the lack of equipment needed to do the job. Plan on sleeping on a heating pad every night after work and taking lots of Ibuprofen. Asside from there being a lack of equipment to help take care of total care residents, its a nightmare at times trying to find diapers, wipes and even gloves so you can clean the residents up when they are incontinent, which is several times a shift.  There are no real checks and balances either. On SEVERAL occasions, medication that was supposed to be administered by a medication aide, would be found on the floor by the residents bed or on their night stand. Management would be informed but nothing ever changed. 
Housekeeping leaves a lot to be desired. There is dried fecal matter on the floors in a lot of the residents bedrooms along with smeared fecal matter on the toilets and walls. Roaches are a common sight throughout both buildings. In the halls, in the rooms and even in the residents beds. Dead roaches can also be seen throughout the facility. You would think that housekeeping would vacuum the bedrooms and halls to clean the dead roaches up but they dont. 
People pay good money to send their loved ones to this place thinking that they are going to be getting the best care possible like they should. Its a shame that the residents have to live in those filthy conditions. I would NEVER send any of my loved ones to live there.

I worked at several Holiday communities in the Dallas Metroplex as a Sales Leader for over 3 years. I was encouraged to engage in deceptive high pressure sales tactics. Misleading seniors about availability and pricing to get them to sign a lease agreement. "Home Visits" and Hospital Visits whereby you go to their homes or even worse to their hospital where they are in a bed and they have to listen to you. You bring them gifts to persuade them to move in. You are told to make friends with them but once you know they can't or won't move in, you drop them fast. Practices include telling them it's the last apartment you have available when you have lots of inventory, tell them that today is the last day of this pricing-when you know the next day the prices will actually drop. Your pressured to get them to come in for a meal over and over to get current residents to help you sell them but when they don't move in they are called Plate-Lickers!
Turn over is outrageous-they can't keep sales reps or activity directors. If you do rent enough apartments to make your goal of 4 per month-they raise the rent or increase the community fee making it more difficult-they do this on a month to month basis. They pit the sales leader against the managers as a form of checks and balances so everyone is looking over their shoulder, no one trusts their co-workers and everyone is stressed out. I've been in sales for over 20 years and I've never seen such a poor work environment. I'd go back to visit sometimes and everyone was always stressed out. I was too when I worked there-I just didn't see it as clearly. People stay because they enjoy working with seniors but the abuse of the employees is way over the top. If I had the time, I'd report them to the better business bureau. There are several websites/blogs for I Hate Holiday Retirement discussions and now I know why. I quit and did not get fired and stayed for so long because I was over 50 and it's more difficult to get jobs but I'd rather drive for Lyft for Uber if I had a choice. BAD NEWS!

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Kitchen helper 12 salaries reported	$11.17 per hour
Housekeeper 7 salaries reported	$12.62 per hour
Server 6 salaries reported	$9.54 per hour
Cook 8 salaries reported	$13.44 per hour
Sous chef 7 salaries reported	$15.57 per hour

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