Pros
Overall, when beginning at WEAP I had seen the passion and enthusiasm for making a difference in many clinicians that I had worked closely with. The one main positive I had appreciated, from day one until my final day of employment, was that amazing work ethic and love that BT Therapists/Seniors and Technicians/Lines have for their kiddos. Throughout my time with the company, the structure had changed. WEAP had always been for-profit, therefore, the bottom line must be met. When the waiver went away, however, it became extremely evident that billable hours were more of a necessity then the quality of care for clients.
Cons
Management unfortunately does not have the background to be running the operational side of a company. Having heavy clinical experience, they do their best to make decisions that are beneficial to the company, however, their choices typically end up creating a negative impact in various departments. In addition to the lack of management training and structure, from the bottom/entry level positions to management there is little to no appreciation. After multiple encounters with the owners and upper management, it was very clear that every person is replaceable, and had not only been told that but had heard others being told that. There had been a high level of conduct from the CEO during my time that showed me that as much as I loved the field and many of my co-workers, that each day offered the possibility of harassment and mistreatment. WEAP as a whole offers much opportunity, especially for college students, but for a career it requires high levels of work and overtime, with unacceptable behavior and treatment. In terms of offering treatment to clients, WEAP has incredible clinicians. The clinicians that work at WEAP have incredible potential, however, are limited in what they are capable of doing because of the management. Knowing many clinicians in the field, I have personally seen individuals flourish and grow after leaving WEAP and joining other organizations, while being given better compensation, benefits, and a better work/life balance.