Pros
The residents were truly the heart of the community, and many of the family members were caring, involved, and appreciative. I also had the opportunity to work alongside some wonderful staff members who genuinely loved the residents and were committed to providing compassionate care. The “Sunrise Way,” as it was taught and presented, was a beautiful model centered on dignity, respect, service, and quality care. From an administrative standpoint, the pay was also very good, which was a strong benefit of the position. Overall, the best parts of the experience were the residents, the relationships with families, the dedicated team members, the mission as it was taught, and the compensation.
Cons
The Sunrise environment, in my experience, no longer reflected what is promoted as “The Sunrise Way.” Over time, it appeared that the values and culture that once made Sunrise a place people desired to work became inconsistent and difficult to recognize. I witnessed several concerning issues, including racially insensitive comments made in meetings that were brought to leadership’s attention but, in my view, were not properly addressed. There also appeared to be a culture where opportunities and accountability were not always based on capability, fairness, or performance, but rather on favoritism and who someone knew. Rules and expectations seemed to apply to some individuals, but not equally to others. The work environment became hostile and discouraging. When concerns were brought to the Executive Director and General Management, meaningful corrective action did not appear to follow. Instead, it seemed that the individual who raised concerns was impacted through restructuring, which only added to the feeling that employees were not truly heard or protected. It is disheartening to see an organization that many people once worked hard to be part of decline in this way. Staff carried heavy responsibilities, yet decisions appeared to be driven by executive-level financial interests rather than the stability and well-being of employees or residents. When buildings became less profitable, staff were left feeling uncertain and, in some cases, not given the level of communication or notice they deserved. For anyone seeking long-term employment, I would strongly encourage caution. Based on my experience, the environment felt unstable, inconsistent, and unsupportive. In a better world, employees would be valued, concerns would be addressed fairly, and leadership would uphold the standards they promote. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.
