administrative specialist

administrative assistant

social worker

clinical therapist

fiscal technician

Waukesha County, WI

I came in as a contact tracer when COVID first ramped up and it was a terrible experience. We were given very little training and did not have any observational calls before they just let us loose. This led to a lot of people doing things incorrectly and just overall was a hot mess. When COVID was peaking, we were consistently being given 50+ calls per day to make and nobody was willing to listen when we said it was becoming too much. The contact tracers were paid the least yet we had the most work to do. There was inconsistent work loads across the board. For example on one team you're getting 50+ calls per day and on another team you might get 10 per day. Many of us put in extra hours (unpaid) just so we could catch up each day. Different groups were constantly given different information which made getting any consistent training done impossible. Supervisors would let anyone talk during meetings which meant they lasted twice as long and there was a lot of misinformation being given. You also had to deal with people with advanced degrees that thought they were doctors and should be giving medical advice when they had no background in clinical care.
In the end, all the hard work we did was for nothing and we all got cut. 

I worked in the Inpatient Mental Health Center. It was a decent nurse to patient ratio, but the Waukesha County Crisis team would Chapter almost anyone and we would see many people that we had to come to the facility that would have likely been okay with a safety plan. The Crisis team would also chapter inmates from across the street, so we would have inmates there along with their unwanted behaviors at times. 

Upon starting your shift, you would be assigned a group of patients. Depending on if it was a full moon or not, your shift could go smoothly or...nor not so smoothly. 

Management would come and go throughout the day, but wasn't too professional, often making comments about other coworkers and made you wonder what they said about you when you weren't there. 

Depending on who you worked with, it was either a team effort, or you were on your own for the shift. 

The hardest part of the job, aside from the eMAR computer system crashing almost monthly, would be the difficult patients that would attempt jump over the counter or attempt to fight other patients or staff. 

The most enjoyable part of the job was the chaos and some of the coworkers. 

The clients we serve have high needs and at times it feels like we do not have enough resources which can make the job stressful. There are lots of different roles within the Divisions and organization which offers opportunities but it can be challenging when comparing jobs. A clinical therapist role can have back to back clients in our outpatient clinic or be in our CCS program doing home visits or working in the inpatient unit doing assessments and care coordination. At times it can feel like we operate in silos and other times where we have great collaboration. 

The job can be very rewarding and stressful but having a supportive supervisor makes all the difference.

Leadership has changed significantly over the last couple of years which has made a positive impact. There is still room to grow but feeling optimistic with the changes. 

Overall, I would say Waukesha County is a great place to work. It has its challenges just like any other work place. I feel supported in my role and by my team. 

The county pays very well but you pay for that with high caseloads with no end in sight. You're encouraged to join committees and work groups and projects and activities. If you don't join these things, you risk not receiving an 'above and beyond' bonus at the end of the year. If you do join the committees, you risk being reprimanded for not keeping up with your caseload. If you consider working here, find something you're passionate about and join 1 or 2 committees- that's it. 
Management are poor communicators and clique-y. They ask for feedback from the employees 1-2 times per year and do not implement feedback. 
I know many of us feel 'stuck' in the job due to the higher salary for our average pay grade and being unable to branch out elsewhere. It's an odd thing to complain about, I know. 

I cannot even put into words how much of a mess this place is. The county sends out "anonymous" surveys each year and they don't even listen to the feedback. Terrible communication all around and turnover rates, can't keep anyone employed but upper management refuses to take accountability for their own actions. Feedback given during exit interviews probably doesn't even make it to HR or is just relayed as irrelevant since they view everyone that's leaving as a disgruntled employee - they would rather blame current staff for their own problems, retaliate when you go to anyone with concerns, and run good employees out the door or to other departments or blacklist them entirely from transferring by bad mouthing you rather than just forwarding your evals, so you eventually have no choice but to quit outright or stay. 

For the most part, this can be a good place to work.  There are a lot of dedicated and caring people for sure.  I'd say the management is very inconsistent, some managers are really good and others are very poor.  I would also say that favoritism is a real problem in terms of advancement.  For the most part, creative or out-of-the-box thinking is encouraged but generally ignored or not listened to - which is very demotivating for people trying to improve things. 
 Communication across the organization is poor - during the COVID pandemic it improved but after that it returned to being not very good.  

In the interview process they make Waukesha county sound like a great place to work for. When you start you then realize that that was all a lie. There is a huge like of communication, extremely poor management or lack of and very unethical ways of doing things. There is no room for progression unless you are willing to kiss or have your head up someone’s butt. They also do not take in consideration the thoughts and ideas for better improvement from those in that position with knowledge. Meetings are a waste of time because they already have a plan and idea of how they want things and just make it look like they want your opinion.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Work from home and flexible summer hours were the best part of working.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working for a manager who is clueless on how to manager professional people.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Solos, click ish, lacks diversity and inclusion and balance of staff work loads.  Felt unheard when complaints arose.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Extremely business, short handed and independent work.

Work culture isn't ideal for onboarding workers, pay is low, management was always putting out fires leaving you to have to figure things out on your own. 
High turnover and burnout were common in my time there. 
They expected you to work outside your scope of practice and if you questioned and ask for things to be more clear they dodged the questions. 
Then when things hit a breaking point you're replaceable as they gaslight you till you burn out or are let go. 



What is the best part of working at the company?
They really care about quality of life for those dealing with mental illness.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Working in a cubicle, but it is getting easier

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very professional and client centered

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It is an interchange between working face to face with clients, meetings, clinical supervision and documentation

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Administrative specialist 11 salaries reported	$25.22 per hour
Administrative assistant 11 salaries reported	$24.11 per hour
Social worker 3 salaries reported	$36.22 per hour
Clinical therapist 6 salaries reported	$40.03 per hour
Fiscal technician 2 salaries reported	$29.76 per hour

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