nursing assistant

dining room server

cook

licensed practical nurse

registered nurse

National Lutheran Communities and Services

I regret to say that my experience working at this  assisted living facility has been overwhelmingly negative. While initially, the atmosphere seemed promising and uplifting, it quickly turned into a nightmare due to excessive workload and poor management decisions. The company’s preference for certain individuals in management roles has led to a toxic environment where drama and chaos are perpetuated by one particular resident manager. If you don’t align with their favoritism, you’re practically sacrificed. Work-life balance is non-existent, and employees are only valued if they’re part of the inner circle with specific management members. The constant turnover in management reflects their inability to address underlying issues, resulting in passive-aggressive behavior and a lack of support for staff development. Management remains aloof in their offices, rarely offering assistance on the floor where it’s needed most. I constantly felt scrutinized and faced repercussions for minor infractions, creating an intimidating and isolating environment. Advancement opportunities are practically nonexistent unless you’re willing to engage in favoritism or provide information to appease managers. The lack of appreciation for workers is palpable, and there’s a distinct absence of safety and comfort upon entering the workplace. External problem solvers (previous HR and DON) who attempt to assist ultimately leave due to the pervasive negativity. The staggering turnover rate speaks volumes about the dysfunctional management structure. Potential employees should exercise extreme caution, meticulously documenting everything, and be prepared for potential backstabbing. While the residents themselves are lovely, the overall atmosphere is nothing short of horrid.

I was a concierge at The Legacy at North Augusta for a little over a year and I do NOT recommend working at this facility point blank period. 

The Legacy is an assisted living facility located in Stanton Virginia. At first The Legacy seems like a great place to work considering the multiple Great Place to Work awards and a great benefits package that includes all sorts of things from PTO to a retirement account well good luck taking PTO when there is never anyone to cover your shifts or that are willing to cover your shifts… The Legacy is owned by National Lutheran which is the corporate office based in Maryland these people from corporate do NOT know what they are doing they put on an act like they care and even have the WE CARE motto for The Legacy but could literally care less especially since they are barely paying the bills for The Legacy you may walk in to work one day with the phones down or there may be no power… 

Corporate came in after two people from management put in their two weeks notice and basically told them that they accepted their resignation but that they weren’t able to work out their to weeks and that it would be their last day… but hey thats the WE CARE way right!

So many people do things that just bet swept under the rug and nothing is done about it their are so many people that are going to put a smile on their face in front of you and turn around and absolutely trash talk you behind your back, I know that no work place is perfect but the way people and staff act at The Legacy is awful! 

I HIGHLY do not recommend ANYONE work here unless you are wanting a work place with poor management, a terrible corporate office, poor culture, and disrespect.




Working at National Lutheran Communities & Services was a disappointing experience due to poor leadership, particularly from the CEO and executive team. The organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion felt insincere, as I faced homophobia and felt pressured to hide my identity. 

In addition to creating a toxic work environment, my supervisor regularly asked probing questions about my personal medical choices, made inappropriate jokes, and encouraged competition among employees ultimately pitting us against one another. Their blatant statement that they did not believe Black Lives Matter when talking about the sentiment versus the organization was disheartening and contradicted the values of Christianity. 

It is evident that the organization's leadership did not align with the principles of the Lutheran faith, causing me to question the authenticity of their commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive workplace. NLCS may have the title of being a Great Place to Work, but it is only because they send a check every year and buy the accolade. I would caution potential candidates, especially those from marginalized communities, to approach opportunities at National Lutheran Communities & Services with caution.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The opportunity to positively impact the lives of the residents in the community and tuition assistance. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Executive Leadership. It all trickles down. I have found this workplace to be a painful and toxic environment. Chronic gossip, constant drama, and investigations based on hearsay create a culture of mistrust and negativity. Working here has been emotionally draining and has taken a toll on my well-being. While difficult, my experience has also been a stark lesson in leadership and teamwork, showing me many ways not to foster a healthy work environment.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment and culture are extremely disappointing. While there is constant talk about caring and creating a supportive space, there is minimal follow-through or meaningful action. This disconnect between words and reality feels more harmful than if there were no pretense of a safe, humane workplace at all. Promises of support and collaboration are often empty, leaving employees frustrated and emotionally drained.

The Village at Orchard Ridge Community, a National Lutheran Community is definitely a great place to work.  In addition to their job skills, all staff are hired because of their people skills and because they want to make a difference in the lives of seniors.  The residents, who for the most part are very affluent and who had very successful careers are what makes Orchard Ridge really special.  Their stories and life experiences are fascinating.  As the Sales Director, I lead the team that is responsible for bringing new residents to the community.  The days are busy and dynamic as we conduct tours and meet with potential residents.  The management team is very strong and sets the tone.  The organization cares a lot about their employees and the philosophy is that if employees are cared about they will in turn provide great service to the residents.  There are fun perks like food and coffee trucks, employee picnics, and there is a lucrative end of year bonus program for front line team members that is paid out right before the holidays.

The current state of this organization is disheartening, serving as a cautionary tale of how a single ineffective leader can wreak havoc on an entire company. Unfortunately, the new CEO is lacking in leadership qualities, fostering a culture of selfishness that permeates the entire team, leading to misguided decisions. The lack of diversity within the leadership team is glaring, with little support for non-executive team members and a concerning shift towards prioritizing profits over the well-being of residents. While they claim to promote internal talent, the reality is that dissenting voices are stifled, discouraging any attempts at positive change. Additionally, the apparent disregard for diversity and inclusion, exemplified by the VP of Diversity's educational background, is unacceptable, especially considering the Lutheran church's emphasis on these values. It's a shame that this organization has strayed so far from its principles.

Loved my team on my unit and the patients but the management is a no. One specifically be littles you and they will get smart with you and their “investigations” are not thorough so as soon as someone reports you and lies, you can get let go even if you did nothing wrong. They’re stingy with their budget, they’ll don’t focus on actual needs the place needs but rather luxury wants like entertainment. They’ll watch your hours like a hawk and mess with your time card when it doesn’t benefit them. They think it’s okay for a CNA to work alone. They will make false promises on looking into things you recommend or have a concern about and never get back to you. The favoritism is real at this place so watch your back at all times. They claim to be a “team” nope they will be two faced but not act like a team when it matters. They contradict themselves so much it’s unreal. Record your conversations because they will turn around and say they never said what they said.

Had high hopes when I began working there. This building once had a good reputation but is lacking in several areas. Lack of training, support from management and overall is poorly run. No one seems to know anything when asking a question and for those who shirk their responsibility, it seems there is no oversight or consequence. Everyone seems to do what they want and adopt the “that’s not my job attitude.” I now know why for years, they can’t secure their own staff but rather have agency running their building. Would not recommend working there unless a new company were to come in and existing management team (only a couple are there) are replaced. 

Expect to be worked as much as possible,  there's no guarantee that you'll get PTO days or leave to take care of a family member in need. You can have a death in the family and still be expected to work. Some co workers are laid back but only when the head of the department leaves and everyone can finally take a step back and breathe.  Most enjoyable part is leaving at the end of the day but even then never Expect to get off on time. The hardest part of the job was doing everyone else's dirty work instead of doing my own job because "head chef says so". Never in my life have I seen such a bad turn over rate. Do yourself a favor and turn away from this place. The head chef abuses his power and has major big dog syndrome 

Holding a job in the CL department became a chore. The management has no faith in you to do your job but then hang you out to dry or point the finger at you when they really drop the ball. The culture of the department is passive aggressive "collaboration". I say that loosely. There is no support no training no camaraderie. It's sad because they blame the stress on the residents when the main source of stress is from them. They don't respect your time when you're not clocked in. They take their time and guard it but your time is up for grasp and you're bullied into giving it to them. They work in very reactive structure never proactive in so many instances when they could be. So much more to say just happy to be gone. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Nursing assistant 111 salaries reported	$22.21 per hour
Dining room server 89 salaries reported	$17.60 per hour
Cook 79 salaries reported	$20.31 per hour
Licensed practical nurse 47 salaries reported	$32.75 per hour
Registered nurse 51 salaries reported	$44.17 per hour

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