Once a Shining Light, Now Burning (Bright?)…
Pros
I’ve worked for RI for over 8 years full time, 12-hour shifts and now 8-5 regular hours. In the original organization, peers with just high school diplomas were given decent jobs with decent (above minimum wage) pay in which they were able to partner with others experiencing mental health and/or substance use difficulties and see positive differences occur in their lives. Those with college degrees received supervisory jobs with compensatory higher pay. RN’s and doctors were paid the most for non-management positions. There were overall great feelings about the jobs we were doing, the teams we worked on, and the “guests” we had the pleasure to work with each day. We were part of a changing tide in mental health care for the better and we could feel it! The commitment of the members of the team was infectious, and we looked out for each other like a family. We had managers who would call you back if you called in sick, and if you were not coming in because you were having personal difficulties the manager would encourage you to come in to work to receive the support and love of the team.
Cons
That was then, this is now. With the advent of the new management team a few years ago, everything changed at this company, and not for the better. Yes, they finally put through minor long overdue raises for everyone initially. However, take a look at what they pay their everyday workers now versus what their top five executives are getting paid, and this for a non-profit! They’re best characterized by constant turnover, lack of support, lack of staff, lack of safety, and especially lack of concern for anything except the almighty dollar. They totally lost the vision the original company had for valuing and providing peer support to those who are mentally ill and/or experiencing substance use issues. Now the emphasis is totally on admissions, turnover, and more admissions. No one in management cares about the experience of the patients or the safety or security of the staff anymore as they cut staff, increase patient numbers, and hire peers, QP’s, RN’s, and doctors who don’t have a patient first commitment anymore. Sadly, the company has become the epitome of exploiting those who are mentally ill and/or have substance use issues for profit. I’m currently looking for a company for whom I can feel better working. My recommendation would be to steer clear and pursue another peer specialist, QP, RN, or physician position.