There are two sides to every coin... and every company.
When I first accepted my position with UPMC, I was elated. Being one of the largest employers in Pittsburgh, as well as Southwestern Pennsylvania in general, there were a lot of facets to look forward to. As an entry-level employee, I enjoyed a decent salary, excellent benefits, awesome perks, and paid training.
When you start, you get to go to two introductory meetings "Beginnings" and I can't quite remember what they called the other. The first day, you learn all about UPMC. You're in a large room with every type of new employee, from environmental services to physicians. They play games to help you learn useless knowledge about the company that you will never use again, and you can get some free UPMC merchandise for answering questions correctly. You get to mix and mingle, but chances are, you will never see those people again. You get your fancy-schmancy UPMC photo badge, and you will hate it.. but you're stuck with it. Don't lose it either, you'll have to pay $15 for a replacement.
From those larger meeting days, you'll go to your facility, be it a doctors office or hospital. After a few days of facility specific meetings, you'll be shipped to your brand new department/area! You'll slowly train with people who detest their jobs and you'll only learn half of what you actually need to. I'm not sure about other departments, but I know that my supervisor/manager/higher-up person was pretty much a ghost. You'll need to ask a question or want to clarify so
WPIC Mental Health Workers: great, resilient staff, but under appreciated and under compensated
There was hardly ever a dull day when I worked at WPIC on the Merck floor, so if you want an environment where you will gain many stories that would gross out the average folk, this is the place for you. There is great camaraderie among the MTs, PCAs and SNAs and usually the nurses too, so that helps make it a manageable place to work day by day.
As an MT you try to run therapeutic groups, but there are often patients of many different intellectual levels, so mainly we tried to keep everybody as entertained and safe as possible. It is a rewarding population to work with; when simple things like going a full day without a patient smearing feces on you or the wall is something to celebrate, your life view shifts. There are patients that are hilarious, adorable, endearing and terrifying. Many are there on that floor because they are aggressive, so you will definitely dodge some fists, get scratched, bit and maybe even a concussion. You were on camera 24/7 too, which could be helpful when an incident goes down, but could also be nerve racking in that you could not make a mistake in how you react when being attacked. (I feel like I can empathize and understand the dilemma for cops and body cams).
For an MT the pay was a bit below ok, but for PCAs and SNAs, who deal with all the same physical and emotional demands but just didn't run groups or have bachelor degrees, the pay was ridiculously low. They were the most under compensated and under appreciated by the management alt
ProsStaff, Doctors
ConsSchedule, 'corporate' overlords, low pay for the extreme physical and mental strain
2.0
Environmental Specialist | Pittsburgh, PA | Jul 31, 2013
Stressful, hostile community without any decency and/or respect for lower-tier staff
On a typical work day (while I was still employed here):
I've experienced several unpleasant occurrences. To make this short; it was too much work. I can handle a lot of hard work normally, but having to cover the other two shifts' work everyday, just because they've managed to slack off daily, is not a fair deal. If there have been call-offs, then that's understandable, but I don't like being pulled off of my assigned schedule everyday to do someone else's work, especially while they're right there, unoccupied.
What I've learned:
I've witnessed enough hostility and discrimination here to the point that I've adapted to it; I can endure it much more effectively than I used to. It still bothers me from time to time, but that's going to happen everywhere. I just needed a change-- a new job, in a different place.
Management: In short, the management was fine. There was a bit of sloppiness when it came to arranging the shift's schedules (changes from call-offs, no-shows, tardiness, etc.) This often resulted in scattered assignments; workers in the department would unexpectedly get pulled off of their assignments, several times a day, to do something that someone absent was originally scheduled to do. When a housekeeper couldn't finish three shifts worth of work, it often resulted in a reprimand, write-up, and/or a poor work performance review.
Co-workers: I haven't had any problems with my co-workers within my department. The only troubles I've had were with a few people work
ProsA few slow work days on the weekends and holidays.
ConsShort breaks (often interrupted, or not given), complaints about the work being left behind by other shifts, being heavily overworked without any consideration...
I understand that a lot of people complain about jobs they have left. However, I have enjoyed all but 2 of my previous jobs very much.
When I started at this job last year, it was my first Medical Assistant position. I had a lot of "free reign" essentially, being responsible for inventory, ordering supplies, rooming patients for 2-3 doctors simultaneously, working 11 hours per day with no work-life balance. I was appreciated and praised for my good work during the first year with no training or oversight.
During the second year, I was told that my tremendous performance would earn a promotion which never happened. During the Coronavirus pandemic, free grant money was approved for all employees making less than $20/hour which UPMC refused to submit and, as I heard happened in the past, they apparently never do. UPMC refuses your opportunity to work overtime and does not allow you to find secondary employment. When I began college classes I was still working a full time job at a daylight Doctor's office. Because of the increasingly toxic work environment, I tried to transfer for any position that was available including a transporter. I was told that I could only move from my full time daylight position to a part-time schedule at the 24/7 hospital because my schedule would be too busy as a student. Management constantly told me I had to claim a lunch break even if all of my medical staff co-workers were off sick. I was never praised for working harder when we became short sta
ProsSome college assistance
ConsUPMC college assistance is only good for community college, horrible management, no respect, income limit, no potential for growth or advancement, illegal practices.
As far as compensation and benefits, it's almost impossible to beat UPMC. However, those benefits come at a high personal cost.
While most of the lower-level employees are great to work with and the work experience with the patients is very rewarding, poor management makes for a toxic environment.
There are a few fantastic managers, but unfortunately they either don't stay with the company for long or are not permitted to hold management positions for very long. The prevailing management philosophy is flawed and could not be farther from the "dignity and respect" campaign that is supposedly held in such high regard.
If you're a salaried employee, be prepared to be worked like a dog. The expectation is that UPMC comes first, family comes second, and good luck with anything else. 50 hour and even 60 hour weeks are not unheard of and in some departments there's an expectation that even when you work a M-F job, you'll be there on the weekends as well. Also, it's not uncommon to be wholly trained by lower-level employees. In my tenure with the company, I've only been trained by one manager. In some cases, the manager is not at all familiar with the computer applications and job functions that keep the department afloat - that responsibility falls to the lower-level employees. Needless to say this causes a lot of difficulty when it comes to efficiency and productivity and leaves the door open for misunderstandings and mistakes.
As for dignity and respect, they're little
I worked with UPMC for a few years as a health care concierge. The training is just enough to get you ready to take calls in the call center and then it is essentially trial by fire. The employees are nice enough and they really try to push the "we're a family" sentiment. Lots of unnecessary emails are sent and whenever there's a change in the department everyone becomes a "yes man (or woman)" and accepts the new policy and changes without contest. Sometimes these changes will effect the employees incentives for bonus payout. At first the work does not seem so bad, in the spring and summer months it is more relaxed. Between September and March it is a lot of overtime, 9+ hour days with some weekend work and constant emails asking people to work Saturdays and Sundays. The clientele that call in are often rude and harsh towards the concierges which makes the job difficult. Your hold time, break time, lunch time, not ready time, clock in and clock out are all tracked down to the second. Every second of your day is tracked in the call center program so if you don't do well with micromanaging this may not be the position for you. Similarly, if you are an anxious person or if you don't handle criticism well, I would not recommend this job. Management does their best to support the employees but everything is constantly moving a mile a minute and things/people will get overlooked. Not very organized and more emphasis is put on your stats and what the company wants as opposed to how
As a Director in IT, I had 6 teams reporting to me with approximately 50 FTEs. I had great relationships with all of my direct reports and their staff members. I encouraged training and enhancing their skill sets to continue advancing in their careers. My staff members were very loyal to me, and I was fully up to date and engaged in all of their duties all the while giving them the space they needed to run their individual areas. I am a strong believer in premium customer service and this was represented throughout my department. I attended several daily meetings with every job level from managers (and their staff) all the way up through Senior Executive Management, including the CFO of UPMC.
I was deeply involved in cost savings efforts and took the initiative to start projects to improve current processes in place as well as bring new ideas to the table. I had very good relationships with my peers and still do to this day. I was often given challenged and failing projects at UPMC to rebuild and turn into successful and rewarding programs for the UPMC enterprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the project management work in which me and my teams could observe current situations, analyze data, revise processes and put our hard work into action to see them become valuable and useful assets.
I learned so much in my 17+ years at UPMC. I worked every position from Operator to Operations Engineer to Project Manager all the way up to Director. I take great pride in my work
ProsMy wonderful coworkers and project management work
ConsExecutive management did not always provide full backing when promised.
1.0
Sterile Processing Technician | Aspinwall, PA | Mar 11, 2021
This is a terrible place to work!
This was the worst place I ever worked at! This isn’t a team effort ppl only care about themselves no matter who they have to step on or take down in the process! The Management team was a joke! They were always unorganized, lacked communication, & never could get the Department together! Half of them were under the influence at all times while on the job! They had way to much favortism it was like the more u sucked up the further ahead u got & the ppl who actually cared about the place couldn’t get ahead no matter what they did! We were all taken advantage of & never appreciated! They just wanted u to work & didn’t care if u were sick or had things going on at home u were always replaceable!!! It was ok for the Supervisor to talk all day to certain employees & not work but if u talked to someone for 30 seconds u were told about it!!! Half of the team had no idea what was going on standard wise & they were all on different pages lf how the work was supposed to get done so their training skills were the worst I have ever seen! They would train a new person so poorly then push them on to a different shift to pretty much fend for themselves & rely on the other employees to chip in & train them it was ridiculous! The new ppl had no idea what they were doing & would continue to make mistakes but the whole team would have to take the blame for it I mean how unfair is that when they weren’t trained propey in the first place! The Loaners were always messed up to the point where the V
ProsNo pros for working here!
ConsTo many to count & I think I pretty much said it all in the above statements
My time at UPMC was than ideal. I am trying to say this tastefully and give an honest review without damamging UPMC's name.
I will sart by daying that the pay scale is very low for clinical staff including laboratory personnel, housekeeping, CNA's, PCT's, RN's Dr.'d and PA's. I really cannot think of a position that offers a genuine and relliable package for non-corporate workers.
Atmosphere can be great for a first-time job out of college and gaining experience.
The balance of shift work is difficult. It's like a roller coaster. A true example of my shifts for a week were as follows:
M-1:30 pm-10-pm
T-11am-7:30 pm
W-Off
Th8-430
F-130pm-10pm
S-5am-130 pm
There also is a an issue with management and HR. Another example of time here is the issue of working your way up form Casual/Per Diem to PT or FT.
When I applied for a PT position, I was offered the position and accepted under the condition that I did not disclose this with my coworkers. It didn't take long for the coworkers to find out. My supervisor, after a year, still has not adressed the other applicants/coworkers with the fact that I received this position.
UPMC allow many call off with no coverage, so there are many stressful days where youa re short handed and management does not bother to fill in.
Other issues include racking up over 100+ hours of vacation and not being able to use them because not enough people are trained to do your position, there is no coverage, or your low man on t
Phenomenal Institution, Magnet Hospital, Excellent work environment
I have been employed at this hospital for 27 years. I have been on the same day surgery unit for roughly 23 years, with a short 6 month time period that I transferred to the Epilepsy unit. I have worked in all areas throughout this unit. I am responsible for preparing patients and their families for surgery, taking care of them post operatively, and also work as a perioperative phone call nurse. My position as a phone call nurse is preparing families for surgery days in advance. I am telling them what to expect, reviewing their medical history, and solving any issues that arise, such as children in foster care with consent issues, children that are ill and need to be seen before surgery, and children needing preoperative testing that has not been completed. I have strong communication skills and collaborate with many different services, including physicians, social service, child life service, and surgical schedulers. I have grown in my profession and am certified as a pediatricnurse. My management is supportive and I communicate well with co workers. I am a representative on my unit for the nurse advisory council, which supports a healthy work environment, works on communication throughout the hospital and supports nurse recognition. The hardest part of my job is dealing with frustrated parents that want an earlier time for their child's surgery, or want to know their time for surgery days in advance, which I do not have. I have learned to explain the process to pa
ProsI work 2- 8 hr shifts, and 2-10 hr shifts a week
ConsI am missing patient care when I am on the phone call shift at this point
Questions And Answers about UPMC
How did you feel about telling people you worked at UPMC?
Asked Sep 27, 2016
I always felt proud to say I worked for UPMC as they are very demanding, but this only makes you more knowledgeable, more marketable. I am sorry to hear what I am reading makes it sound like it has gone downhill in recent years.
Answered Apr 7, 2022
I was embarrassed telling people I worked at UPMC.
Answered Apr 6, 2022
What is the work environment and culture like at UPMC?
Asked Jun 16, 2016
Not too many happy or friendly people working there. Very high school mentality and cliques. Not a good place to work.
Answered Aug 2, 2021
Just OK and nothing more to say!
Answered May 24, 2021
How do you feel about going to work each day at UPMC?
Asked Jan 23, 2017
I loved my position but left due to some unforeseen stress after two family members had passed and one needing care at home, as well as other unforeseen circumstances. I miss miss my position and would love to come back. Unfortunately, I left without much of a notice. Unfortunately, my boss previously will not answer my calls or emails, as I’ve tried reaching out Sever times and feel it’s very unprofessional of her to not at least let me know if there’s a possibility of a return later in future. I truly loved my position and taking care of others.
Answered Nov 29, 2020
Anxious, stressed
Answered Sep 24, 2020
What is the best part of working at UPMC?
Asked Dec 4, 2019
The patients! It’s a great place to work at. Good pay.
Answered May 13, 2022
Good pay, many benefits/perks
Answered May 5, 2022
What is the interview process like at UPMC?
Asked Jun 17, 2016
The usual interview questions, first meet with manager then if called back have an interview with peers
