resident assistant

cook

server

wellness nurse

housekeeper

Spectrum Retirement

Anyone who values team work, boundaries, mutual respect, work life balance, and all of those healthy things should think twice before applying to work here. The ED at The Powell location has some major personality issues that manifests as bullying, berating, and meaningless controlling. I have seen her attempt to humiliate staff in front of other staff in order to flex her power and demean others. An example of this was when she chastised me in front of a large group of people (one of our service providers), for not pushing in my chair correctly after getting up. Please note, I did push in my chair while other employees in attendance did not, however, I was her "whipping boy" that week. Another time she tried to humiliate me was during an All Staff meeting within my first 60 days or so of employment. The ED walked around the room handing out pieces of paper to employees. When she got to me and handed me a piece of paper and a pen I asked what I was supposed to do with it. Sarcastically as loud as she could she said "Write your name on it!" and laughed. I did as the ED requested and then she proceeded to collect them. At the end of the meeting a name was drawn for an Easter basket giveaway, my name was drawn  The ED read my name for all of my coworkers and staff to hear and said loudly "No! No you are not winning that! Draw a different name! You know better than that as a manager to enter your name in a drawing!" I replied "You are the one who gave me the paper and pen and told me to do it." Furiously she yelled for sales to draw another name. It was not uncommon for any employee to be the focal point of her well aimed barbs and attacks, especially if she saw any type of self-confidence or self-respect in the person that might threaten her control. Once, the maintenance man was accosted for not removing a bird's nest where the birds were making too much noise next to the business office managers window. Jokingly (because how else could he correct the issue) he said, "I'll just rip it down and kill the babies." In return the ED said seriously, "You do that and I will fire you!" and went on to demean him through the morning meeting. That was just one example of a no-win situation the Powell ED constantly put employees in. When I initially interviewed for the assisted living director position I reviewed the job description and asked how frequently the resident assistants called off and what their longevity was like. The ED responded "They rarely call off." When I asked her what her managing style was, and she could not answer the question, I rephrased it asking if she considers herself a micro manager which she denied.  In the months to come I quickly found out she had been dishonest when answering my questions during the interview. After reviewing the prior schedules I noted that there were many call offs occurring and that she was indeed a VERY controlling micro manager when it came to things that would affect her budget, not particularly resident care. I never received the training or support most people take for granted when starting a job and continued to wait for things to get better, but they never did. After being short staffed and not being in the position to hire more staff or utilize a staffing agency I tried to give the ED my first notice. The ED refused to accept it and instead of asking how she could help me to stay she raised her voice stating that I "don't work as hard as others around here," "Covering shifts is your job!" and "I thought you wanted to be an ED one day... it's all part of the job." Despite being offended after being misled, I remained professional, stating, "Yes, I understand now that this is the job and that's exactly why I am giving you my notice."  I also reminded her that yes, I was interested in being an ED one day however, she as an ED and refuses to work the floor. The ED, flustered and angered, refused to accept my resignation and asked me to give her 30 days to change some things. I expressed concerns that even if things changed there was still a conflict between us and voiced how her behavior made me feel. The executive director dismissed her bullying as being frustrated and overwhelmed so I agreed to give her 30 days to change it. The ED herself said comp. time does not exist for managers and recovering time is not always possible. It was either that time or shortly before when I asked about contacting a local medical staffing agency for assistance as we were so short staffed.  The Wellness Director, Memory Care Director, and myself were covering many resident assistance shifts as well as doing our own job duties.  I was told by the ED the company will not pay for agency and that we must cover all those shifts as that is our job. I found the ease of having salaried managers working so many shifts as an resident assistant for free strangely convenient to the executive directors budget.  You can imagine my great surprise and frustration when I heard the executive director boss asking her during one of her visits  "You've been approved for agency for 4 weeks, why haven't you contacted them?" My office is directly across from executive directors office so the next thing I heard was the door shutting. PTO time was always a stressful process and almost always required a detailed conversation of why it was being taken. I felt pressured many times to tell the executive director the specifics for why it was being used even if it was medically related.  A perfect example of a typical PTO request issue happened on 6/26/2019 when I overheard The Memory Care Director asking to use his earned PTO time to go to an urgent medical appointment. He was fortunate enough to get an appointment I believe on the following Monday. The ED replied: "Can't you get an after hours appointment?" This is a classic example of the ED's lack of empathy and concern for others. After The Memory Care Director left her office she proceeded to share his explanation of why he needed to take PTO time and his current medical issues with her friend, The Director of Sales. It is important to note that even when appointments would be scheduled after work, many of those would have to be cancelled to as managers would be forced to cover shifts. Requesting vacation time was always discouraged and next to impossible. Even if you took a vacation day you were still expected to answer all phone calls on your private cell phone without a phone stipend and come in and work if there was a call off. Although the company promised employees that they would accumulate vacation and sick time hours, it was nearly impossible to use them. Then once an employee figures that out and goes to leave, they will not pay the unused time out. Furthermore, on Easter eve I drove to see my family 3 hours away, and while I was coloring eggs with my nephew I had a call off. Thankfully, a trained and certified STNA from activities said she would cover so I could spend time with my family. The ED said this was unacceptable and expected me to drive back and cover the shift. She no longer cared that the shift was already covered by another employee, but for her it was about the power and her constant attempts to get me to heel to her demands.Spectrum.  If the company wants to know why you have so much turn over, the need to do some exit interviews. I was not offered an exit interview when I left. The excuse the ED uses to corporate is it's hard to find employees in such an affluent area off the bus line. The Powell location has no trouble finding employees as evidenced by the constant turnover. You can't have massive turnover if you don't have employees to start with. The problem is lack of training they receive and the treatment they are expected to endure.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of Spectrum Retirement. My time there was an invaluable experience that significantly contributed to both my professional and personal growth. The company fosters an environment of innovation and collaboration, which inspired me every day to bring my best to the table.

The leadership team at Spectrum is truly exceptional. They provide clear direction, support, and encouragement, making sure that every team member feels valued and heard. The open-door policy and approachable nature of the management made it easy to seek guidance and feedback, which was instrumental in my development. 

My colleagues were not just co-workers but also friends and mentors. The camaraderie and team spirit were evident in every project we undertook, and it was a joy to collaborate with such talented and passionate individuals. The culture of mutual respect and continuous learning created a vibrant and dynamic workplace.

The resources and opportunities for growth at Spectrum are unparalleled. From professional development programs to challenging and meaningful projects, I was constantly pushed to expand my skill set and take on new challenges. The company’s commitment to employee growth and well-being is truly commendable.

I am thankful for the support, mentorship, and opportunities provided during my tenure at Spectrum Retirement. It has been a privilege to work with such an outstanding team and organization. I highly recommend Spectrum to anyone looking for a place where they can grow, learn, and be part of something amazing. Thank you, Spectrum Retirement, for an unforgettable journey.

One disturbing snapshot. A confused AL senior was left outside after midnight for almost an hour that same senior was found wondering around Morse RD. alone weeks earlier. The 2 AL RAs on 3rd shift refused and relished in the fact that they would Not assist this sweet confused senior. As a concierge we are the only ones responsible for responding to the IL seniors if they fall or feel ill they have pendant just like the AL residents. The ED 4th or 5th one since it opened 2 years ago was contacted and did not care she was in bed and wanted to go back to sleep. The HR rep in corporate did not care. Nobody cared about the safety of the senior. The place is dirty the BOM is a tool in training that watches tv all day in her dusty office never makes sure employees get their small raises on time Ever. Completely irresponsible and clueless from top to bottom. Spectrum only cares about profit and the Sales people lie and do anything to get families to move in their loved ones. The 2 RAs that refused to help stayed on 3rd shift I simply refused to work with them because they endangered a senior and it was wrong. I cannot be in 2 places at once if an IL fell and I responded the senior that was outside in the dark that night could have wondered off like last time and could have been hit by a car. Nobody in admin cares the facility is not even prepared for power outages. During a power outage at the beginning of the year lasting 6 hours nobody but me and the fire department checked on the IL seniors that had c paps /oxygen. The nurse and RA in AL would Not check on any residents during that time. They stayed in their office and texted on their phones without one iota of concern for the residents.

I will start off with the positives for Spectrum Retirement Community. The residents were wonderful to work with. The hourly rate staff that work in all departments are hardworking, compassionate, and have a true sense of caring for the residents. Both the residents and the staff below management become your second family. A true sense of comradery. Now as for employees in a director position and up to a corporate level, upper management needs a lot of work. If you request any sort of accommodations that may slightly inconvenience them, they will falsify information to have you fired. Upper management cannot be trusted, and the turnover rate is extremely high which does not set a good precedent for the culture that they preach. Their intentions are not for the best interests of the residents or staff. Unfortunately, they are there to run it as a money-making business. Also, communication between upper management positions needs a lot of work and they are the first to point fingers or take the credit of the hourly positions hard work. Rarely was there ever positive reinforcement or an expression of appreciation.  They would also direct entry level management to go against their moral compass and lie to the residents and entry level associates. 

In my time working with Lincoln Meadows I would start out by counting out medications and logging them or answering calls to get residents ready for breakfast. I would help them with all types of things like getting dressed, taking their scheduled medications, or helping them sit/stand. I would make beds, wash cloths, take out trash, and talk to residents and family members.

I learned a lot about history and the different walks of life that so many people been threw over 80 to 100 years of their life. I also learned how to help people in so many ways weather it be a shower or as simple as a compliment. 

The management at first was amazing and I loved my schedule and bosses. Then my three quit, moved on to a new job or got fired and for the next year, my last, we had 3 new bosses who had come and gone and we couldn't get to know any of them or have them  learn each of our working styles.

I loved working with my co-workers, they were nice, helping, funny, easy going, and each one knew a little trick that they could teach me to make my job easier and go by a little faster. I still maintain contact with a few of them and visit my old job every now and then.

It was very difficult to have a resident pass away or leave or if a co-worker left. I enjoy my residents and want them to feel as happy as possible.

I enjoyed co-workers and the stories that my residents would tell. it was quite eye opening and amazing. Everybody is different and comes from all kinds of walks of life.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The fact that I can recommend this place for potential residents, with a full heart, is priceless to me. My co-workers are all Gems. I am very blessed in my Supervisor, and the Head of HR /Business Office Manager could not be more friendly and caring. The Executive Director is one of the best bosses I've ever had. I just feel lucky to have found this job.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I wish pay was higher, but that is not a problem with this job, but with the Industry Standard, and the economy. In fact, my employers honor the Minimum Wage that is actually higher, in a city adjacent to us.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Extremely positive and supportive. Friendly and appreciative.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I am a part time employee, by my own choice, so I work, in Activities, an average of 6.5 hours a day, 4 days a week. I drive residents to and from medical appointments on designated days, other days we have various activities and events. Last Friday, for instance, I drove about 10 residents for a night out to dinner. We talked and laughed and just enjoyed ourselves. And this coming Saturday will be our 2nd ever meeting for the Writing Prompts Group. We meet every 2 weeks, and interest has already doubled. I led the group, and I'm quite proud of what we've started.

I loved my job and the residents I worked for. There were personnel issues with the housekeeping crew when I started and it only got worse, even with all my ideas of making it more harmonious and fun.

I had a couple of bad apples that made it hard for others with intimidation that was not dealt with by management, housekeepers who were always off or sick and missing work which made it hard for me to schedule resident's regular cleaning, my direct supervisor let these things go on before I started and would not support me when I needed to discipline. 

When my direct boss left and the next maintenance man in line took his job over he and I worked well together but when it came down to actually backing me up, he did not.

We got a new E.D. and within 2 weeks she had ideas about how all of it needed to be changed which was fine but she would not back me up on problems in department and finally suspended me and eventually "upon investigation" called me in and let me go. People went in and talked to her in my behalf and she did not want to hear it.

Residents knew I was up against a brick wall and really liked me and knew I was fighting a losing battle but I just let them management go ahead and fire me, I was not going to fight them.

Starting out the management was super great, but a turn over of the director and dining manager left us horridly understaffed. I had to serve both dining rooms (assisted living and independent living) on my own for a good hour for a breakfast shift several times in a row either due to the only other server scheduled never showing up yet never being punished for this or there simply just not being anyone else scheduled. The climate is not welcoming, the management directly displays apathy towards the dining staff, and any concerns are immediately ignored. I do not wish ill will upon this company, but it is incredibly frustrating to watch the residents not get the meals they pay for and to practically be neglected in terms of food due to improper management of the dining hall and lack of staff. The residents for the most part are fantastic and only want the best for the staff here, it just never felt like the retirement home was doing what they could to give them the best living experience and as a staff member that was incredibly hard to stand by and watch.

They will lower your pay without telling you, and when there is a raise it's only for people managment likes. If you argue for a raise after being with them for 3 years they will tell you to wait till september and only give you 0.13 cents, if you're lucky. They do NOT give bonuses spite telling you they will. They offer you them for picking up holidays, days off, and/or applying/refreing a friend, but you will never see them in your check, even if you bring it up to HR. Theres never supplies to take care of patients and  if there is work abuse/racisim from coworkers they blame you for being offened. PTO is also taken away, and when its given it can only be used on holidays to count as time and a half. If you want time off for a funeral or family or personal time, you have to provide extens amount of evidence and even then they will deny you unless you pick up on all you holidays off (in exchange).... The only time the facility is at its best is when state comes into the building and they are rusihing you to make everything look nice to "pass".

They roll out policies then change them on a dime. Corporate office expectations of what can be done in a community are not realistic. Regional leadership has zero respect for community leadership - they show up unannounced and expect you drop everything to meet with them, then wonder why some things aren't done. Regional and corporate leaders gossip about each other and about community teams to everyone creating a toxic environment. If you are looking for a liberal, woke, buzz-word prolific company, you will be welcomed rainbow colored open arms and feel right at home. 
Benefits are lacking compared to others in the industry with a longer wait time before they take effect and at higher cost to employee. Cell phone reimbursement is ridiculous considering how much you use your personal phone.  Wages are some of the lowest in the industry for every position and their is no employee recognition or reward program. They also don't believe in honoring our military veterans due to the personal beliefs of one the VPs. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Resident assistant 214 salaries reported	$17.65 per hour
Cook 118 salaries reported	$18.70 per hour
Server 173 salaries reported	$16.09 per hour
Wellness nurse 56 salaries reported	$34.17 per hour
Housekeeper 63 salaries reported	$16.58 per hour

Working at Spectrum Retirement: Company Overview and Reviews

Spectrum Retirement

Spectrum Retirement Ratings

Popular jobs at Spectrum Retirement

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected