direct care worker

case manager

direct support professional

assistant counselor

home health aide

LifeWorks, Inc.

The culture is toxic. Always a sense that the rug will (and does) get pulled out from under you. Much better with WFH. There is NO effective communication, no value, you are told of changes last minute or sometimes not at all- you just get experience them as they happen with no opportunity for preparation. Happens over and over with just the standard apology of “sorry you didn’t get any advanced notification”.  Used to get training when taking on new clients now when calls come in for clients you don’t have training on you are told “just do the best you can”. Leadership does not advocate for the needs and support of the team with higher ups. You are not valued as an individual- you are just a number- a widget to be used at their discretion. There is no “team” -no consideration shown to those taking the calls and are the client facing people of the organization. You are told to improve your metrics but known barriers to them are never cleared. Those that succeed in this company do so IN SPITE of the structure, lack of support and toxic, punitive culture. There is no feeling of leadership being vested in your success or valuing the skills you bring. Benefits are decent but pay is very low and there’s is no negotiation to compensate for skill level or education. They do not try to hold onto good talent so eventually most really good reps leave.  This is a great job if you have adequate WFH accommodations and if you need work fast- and consistent. Most highering is done from temp agencies (like cattle calls) during the summer months and then once they no longer need the bodies after open enrollment is over in the fall, the ones that haven’t left and “make the cut” will be offered permanent, but again offer is all electronic and virtual from HR by email with no interview process and no opportunity for negotiations. This is a good “for now” position while you develop skills and vet other positions but not the place to build a career. Much too toxic and espoused values are not adopted locally. 

I worked for Lifeworks for a lot longer than I should have. Some of the clients are great and there are some really passionate lower level staff in the houses.  The issues come once you reach management. They pressure you into overtime and no one is ever helpful on-call when an emergency happens.  Training all depends on who your manager is.  If you have a good manager or a good director, you’re fine.  If not, you had better be good at teaching yourself the job or have good coworkers.  When I started as a manager, I had next to no support.  It was horrible. I taught myself on the fly how to be a supervisor.  Speaking of…don’t get me started on the favoritism.  If you want to move up in the agency, I hope you have a friend in middle or upper management.  If not, your chances are next to zero.  They would rather promote their friends than anyone who is actually qualified and willing to do the work.  Then the qualified people who care leave for better pastures and you’re left with people who don’t care.  Lifeworks supports disabled individuals.  It needs people who care.
I will say, Lifeworks is one of the better paying agencies in the area and time off, though accrued, is generous.  The individuals are what make it the only thing worth staying.  It’s too bad that in recent years, management has proven over and over again that they don’t actually care.  If they cared, staff would get the medical and behavioral training they need instead of everything being half-assed.

Stay away! If you want to successfully advocate for the participants, don’t work here. If you want to be trained on your job, don’t work here. If you want to feel welcomed by upper management, don’t work here. If you show advocacy, there’s a good chance that’s when they will mark an X on your back to find ways of getting you out of there. 
I was never told how my job actually worked. I knew immediately that one of the biggest parts of the job was to toilet people. I NEVER was shown how to do paperwork or explained any protocols. If you agree with someone about something negative, be sure that it will be turned around into you being the one saying it or something will be taken completely out of context. You’ll hear compliments from co-workers, never management. If you are not performing to their standards, upper management will talk amongst themselves about you (actually, everyone talks about everyone there) but never talk to you about it. Then they make stuff up to pad their thoughts about you. 
Then, after being praised by a coworker earlier in the day, 30 minutes before the end of the day they fire you, 9 weeks into your 90-day probationary period. 
Completely disgusting how they treat their employees. 

A typical day included much more direct care than should have been the job of a Case Manager (almost 95% for a year).  Otherwise had to find time to do the job of case management before or after work.  Many good people and a few great workers, but many relief staff and some assistant case managers who didn't do much - and seemed to have the run of the place.  It was great to work with people of different cultures, and to support the participants with activities during the day sometimes. Hardest part was realizing that the administration was trying to get as many people into each of the Day Hab rooms, elbow to elbow, as possible, without realizing how that can negatively impact the work and program environment.  Best part of the job was the residents and the staff who seemed to really care, and to act on that consistently.  (Some were just there to fill space and amuse themselves.  Hard for them to put down their phones.)

The staff at the ARC are great to work with, including supervisors.  The days can be hectic at times but if there is a good Program Coordinator in charge of the room then things should go more smoothly.  I met some great co-workers that turned into friends while at the ARC.  
The best part of the job was getting to know and work with the participants.  There are some fun building wide activities (i.e. Tapping Tuesday) and community outings are a great way to get out once or twice a week.  Outings were always the best because you could go with other rooms and bring 1-3 participants to a place of your choice.  We loved going to parks in the spring and having picnics.  
The hardest part of the job is the physical toll it can take on you.  Many of the participants need full assistance in all areas of their day, especially toileting.  If a room is understaffed for the day it can be stressful to complete everything that needs to get done.  But having great co-workers made these days fly by and we could all laugh about it at the end of the day.

In my nearly 4 full years working for Lifeworks I have had the great pleasure of interacting with some of the most genuine and caring people yet. Taking care of physically and developmentally disable clients take a person that with great patience, attention to detail, understanding, and teamwork at the very least. As a teacher / counselor I worked the 56hr Thursday - Sunday position and the hardest part of the job is making sure every little thing is accounted for and taken care of. This job has taught me to understand the difficulties of parenthood and then some like no other job could. So whether it is helping the clients shower, shave or get their meals cooked or even going out into community or helping them with medications there is always one more thing to take care of. The never ending list of things to do like paperwork, house cleaning, and scheduling doctor appointments can be the hardest part of the job since the list never ever ends. Hands down the best part of the job are the clients that you work for and with, and helping them with their goals.

Each day at work is completely different. There are usually many different appointments or activities that need to be done each day. I have had mostly excellent co-workers who have amazing work ethics and truly enjoy helping our individuals to succeed in their lives, jobs and recreational interests. 

Unfortunately, the salary does not increase very often and new employees make the exact same salary as someone who has worked ten plus years at the company. There are also not many opportunities for advancement. Once someone is promoted, they stay in that position until they retire.

I worked at lifeworks for 7 months and I was miserable the whole time. I love this field, don't get me wrong. I was born to help other people enrich their own lives and better themselves in general and Lifework's was an awful place to try to do such things. They overwork their case managers and the things that they expect you to do are ridiculous. The company provides group supported work sites for the clients which is great in theory; until you as the case manager are also on the work line doing the work that you're not paid to do so that production level stays up. It's just insane. Providing transports all day, driving around for hours. They expect so much from you and its just not feasible. you don't get paid enough and its not the job you think you're applying for. Trust me, look elsewhere.

Job descriptions are deceptive. Pay is poor. Overnite stay to meet the minimum pay. Poor training and management uses and abuse staff. Minorities very unwelcomed. 

Worked there and was called abusive minorities names and was told by persons in the program and managers were racist as well.

Supported and participated in all program. Long time employees would come to the job to cook food for their families and used the clients families who were wealthy for vacation planning.

Very disappointed with the organization of the Health Care over objective for clients, and the long time employees who  used the home facility of clients for the own purpose and poor treatment of minorities.

The high turnover, corrupt management, and unsafe practices are all what goes on here. It is by far the worst place I have worked. They lose all of their smart employees due to the way this place is run. Clients are not taken care of as they should be and the CEO/management will lie to the parents saying they are, etc. All it takes is for a visit to see the staff running their childs room cant speak english and have NO training. It is disgusting that management would rather keep money for themselves than to hire proper staff. The nurses licenses are always on the line, no support and everything is out of date. Please save yourself the hassel, its not what they are going to make it seem to be. Liars and snakes everywhere.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct care worker 13 salaries reported	$55,987 per year
Case manager 2 salaries reported	$48,277 per year
Direct support professional 1 salary reported	$17.50 per hour
Assistant counselor 3 salaries reported	$47,155 per year
Home health aide 1 salary reported	$38,097 per year

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