Pros
The individuals are great, no doubt about that.
Cons
Let's start with applications. You feel like you're applying and being interviewed for a job with the FBI. Then when you finally get the job, you have to travel so far away from a worksite that you applied to so you get CPR certified, med certified, PMT.. Meanwhile you struggle with the unprofessionalism with management anywhere from your house manager ALL THE WAY UP! Not one of these managers, admins, ceo's.. not one of these people who have impressive titles know anything about running a company. Sunrise just wants to fill positions. They don't care after the position is filled. They put potential DSP's through a battlefield through an interview, followed by training. Oh, and after training, they have you shadow a staff, who really doesn't know much about the job because of the training he/she got when hired and after shadowing a time or two, they throw you in a house of 5 or so, all by yourself. So basically you either figure out what you're supposed to be doing or join the vast majority who are there for an 'easy' job. The residents go without showers, nutritional meals, attention, outings, hygiene, clean environment...so much to mention. It's sad that most of the individuals have no family, the employees are their family, but the only time you might witness that is when they are at a doctor's appointment or a place where the staff pretty much has no choice but to take them out. As a former full time employee of 26 years who dropped to on call, I was 'let go' because I didn't fulfill an on-call status... well let's start with 1199 being on strike.. even if I was called, I wouldn't pass the picket line. However, I was never called other to be told I had to resign. But! They will hire me back in an instant so informed me to reapply.. Of course all my 26 years would have tanked...taken away from me. I never resigned and they never fired me... that was back in October 2021 and it's now August 2022. When I first started with the company, they were fabulous. Needless to say, I watched this company go to hell. That was June of '95. This past June would have marked my 27th year. I stayed with the company because of the individuals I worked for, took care of. You don't see that now. What do you see? GREED. Like any business these days, they are severely understaffed. During the strike last year, several houses were closed down by the state of CT for being understaffed and the houses being filthy. These residents were placed in nursing homes. Some have returned while some still remain. This is mental abuse to our folks but does sunrise care? I think you know the answer. They also continued to fill beds with no staff. That's what I mean by GREED and professionalism. It was said, during the strike, that sunrise is losing a million dollars a year with empty beds..(I believe it was 7 beds they referred to as empty) so what do they do? Fill them up with no staff available to care for these poor souls...they ended up in nursing homes. Congratulations sunrise! You filled the beds. What they should have thought was, lets hire more staff first so we can provide the care the individuals require. The way they run the business is in comparison to the state back in the day.. too many people.. no care, money money money. Believe me, sunrise doesn't care about our folks with disabilities... Not at all! It's neglect and abuse. They crave going out in to the public shopping, eating out, picnics...but instead, they sit in their chairs until it's time to eat or go to bed. What a life! Applicants BEWARE. They will interview you with a smile and when you see them somewhere down the road, they don't even say hello. All they care about is filling a position.... I wish the state would intervene more. Do house unannounced visits. Interview the higher functioning folks. Well I got carried away and need to stop bashing a company that deserves bashing, but I need to cool down. This company gets me fired up. Hypocrites. P.S. These folks have family and their families should at least try and be involved as far as what care is provided