Autism Spectrum Therapies Employee Reviews about "work life balance"

Pros

Great Work/Life Balance and Benefits

Cons

Certain Departments need structure

Pros

Supportive and knowledgeable support built in to the company's structure. I have worked at AST as an intervention and currently as a supervisor. As an interventionist I received support when working in uncomfortable situations with families. My supervisor truly made me feel she 'had my back.' In addition, I felt my supervisors were invested in my growth and professional development. They provided opportunities to learn advance behavior strategies and analysis. My supervisors were always open to questions and provided support in any way possible. After completing a masters program and passing the BCBA exam, I was promoted to supervisor. As a supervisor my clinical director has taught me how to teach others and manage both staff and families. Being a supervisor has allowed me to have a more flexible schedule. I feel I have a good work/life balance and have been compensated with a competitive salary. I have enjoyed all my different jobs at AST and have seen many changes occur throughout the company. I feel AST is invested in their staff and work hard to make it great work experience.

Cons

I believe cons with AST are consistent with industry standards. This would include inconsistent hours, long work days and drive times. However, being a in-home service provider, these concerns are common. I feel AST has been active in listening to interventionist concerns and have tried to rectify these concerns to the best of their ability. An additional concern would be limited growth without educational experience. I have seen some strong interventionist, with lots of experience, leave due to lack of advancement. However, with the appropriate educational experience, growth is possible.

Pros

Flexible with work schedule. Look after work and life balance. Pay Well. Supervisors provide support and make themselves available. Work around your plans for vacations or days off. Plan to max out your hours. Training so you can grow within the company. Great bonus for recommending people to work.

Cons

Clients may not live close to each other so sometimes have to drive a far distance. Supervisors do their best to keep close distance between clients.

Pros

There are some amazing kids.

Cons

This company used to be great. Now it's a money grab. The company claims to care about the kids and the staff but treats us as dollar signs. Work/life balance is an absolute joke. Staff quit all the time, including Supervisors. They don't give you breaks you're legally entitled to. The pay is lower than most companies in the area. All the BCBAs seem burned out and sad. I dread Mondays on Fridays but can't leave right now for personal reasons. This region is probably closing soon.

Pros

-Supportive clinical director: provides support in clinical matters, client issues, staff management, and professional development. -Supportive senior clinical director, and executive leadership. -Flexibility and ability to manage own schedule. -Case load is appropriate in order to maintain work/life balance. -Competitive salary. -Leadership team is transparent and informs supervisors of company progress and upcoming changes. -AST maintains a culture that is supportive of employees, values clients and upholds integrity. -Professional development opportunities available; staff often promoted from within the company. I have worked with AST for over 7 years and have had a positive experience across all positions (i.e., behavior interventionist, program supervisor, clinical supervisor).

Cons

Due to being an in-home service provider, driving/commuting and traffic is a realistic/unavoidable part of the job. As a manager, there may be difficulties with staff turn-over and staff management.

Pros

AST is a for-profit ABA service company that uses best practice clinical tools to support children and adults with autism. They offer a business model that is not only committed to clients, but to the success of their employees. Paid drive time and mileage, excellent medical benefits and PTO accrual, and a variety of positions and certification opportunities in the company to grow into and learn new things. Every person in management positions I've interacted with in my time there have been professional and helpful and my peers have always been kind and supportive, making it a great environment to work in. My story: I've worked with AST for many years, starting off with little more than an awareness of Autism and a desire to help children. Thorough training and an attentive supervisor taught me how to be an effective interventionist and clinician. As an interventionist, I always felt professionally and emotionally supported. When I had earned it, I was moved through advancement opportunities immediately with the encouragement of my supervisor. When I fell in love with my work and the field, this company supported me in my growth. Accommodations were made to my schedule so I could enter a master's program and when it came time to fulfill the experience hours portion of my program, AST offered several opportunities for expanding my role and learning new skills. I'm now finishing coursework, managing my own team of interventionists, supervising my own caseload, and preparing to sit for the BCBA. All this with the support of a tremendous community of smart and kind individuals who are there to help without hesitation. I can't imagine having taken this journey anywhere else.

Cons

Cons relate more to this field in general than to AST as a company, but AST is not an exception in many of these areas. Scheduling is not always ideal and you may drive great distances (within a specified mileage maximum) and have gaps between sessions. It's important to be honest about your availability, as AST offers sessions to clients from as early as 8am to 8:30pm six days a week and it is more than likely you will be scheduled within what you say you are available to work, especially in the evenings. Your work/life balance will be what you make of it and it's important to be honest and advocate for yourself. Wages are also a slight issue. My hiring wage matched industry standards, if not the standard I was promised following completion of a 4 year degree program, but raises, when they are awarded, are often non-impactful.

Pros

Lots of great opportunities to advance and grow.

Cons

Work life balance way out of whack.

Pros

You have a supportive team. You have an opportunity to work with families. You have opportunities to gain CEUs. You can communicate and collaborate with fellow managers throughout the area!

Cons

Not salaried for MTs. Covid has caused a decrease in staff. MTs aren’t given solution just told to take up DI cases for supplement pay. Use PTO to supplement pay. And no sick time or what salaried and BTs get; float time. Work life balance more often feels impossible than a realistic aspect.

Pros

I cannot say enough good things about AST, I absolutely love my job! Upper management is always super helpful and they have a genuine concern for ALL their employees. They create positive working environment, are very encouraging and the work/life balance is taken very seriously. You feel supported every step of the way at AST and are always getting feedback to help you excel. The workplace culture here is very diverse and all inclusive which is one of the things I love most about this company. The starting pay is the best compared to other local companies in this area and the benefits are top notch. The best part of the job is working with the kids and the teamwork amongst my co-workers, we are truly one big family.

Cons

None, I feel very lucky to work for such a great company.

Pros

You can have an opportunity to work with teams who want to help you succeed. Free CEUs, materials easily to locate. And at times a great team to collaborate with.

Cons

Covid has changed everything for everyone in the world. Short staff, means more client holds, meaning no option to re route. Meaning you are often expected just to take the paycut. Promote work life balance however when your hours are low request you use your PTO for supplement hours. MTs often feel unsupportive because of this