Pros
I have worked for this agency for two years now, and couldn't be happier with my experience. I have been given the opportunity to grow both professionally and as an individual, and even in my short time (compared to others) I have seen this company excel and change in the best of ways. 1)The company as a whole truly cares about their staff and even if they can't fix a particular kink or problem immediately, that doesn't mean that they aren't doing everything in their power to fix it as soon as possible. Feedback is extremely welcomed and considered, and management continuously strives to please their staff as much as possible with what they have control over. 2)There has been huge room for growth within this company, and I have been given the opportunity for promotion even in just two years. The company recognizes hard workers and does everything they can to keep them on staff and does their very best to support those in transition as much as possible. 3) The culture of this agency is unlike any other that I have ever experienced in that they strive for integrity in every area of the company - this includes the Executive team, office staff, and staff in the field. The agency has adopted the model of acting on what they say they will do, and it has greatly improved an already outstanding company. 4) The heart of the people in the offices and the field is unmatchable - there is a deep family feel amidst the deep professionalism, and coworkers truly care about one another and supporting each other however possible. Every day I feel that I am working for a company that produces so much good - both to the children that receive our services and their parents/familys. The knowledge of this is something that I can't put a price on - the stories are amazing and keep me going every day. AST makes a huge, positive, difference in the lives of our familys as well as in the field of autism and that to me is invaluable.
Cons
The workload of every staff person is much too much for a 40 hour a week position. As the agency grows we continue to take on more until it can be evened out, which presents a challenge for creating a healthy work-life balance. This is something that I know that management is trying to improve and is a great deal out of their control, but it does take a huge commitment to accomplish all that is required of you, no matter the position.
