Page 14 - Top Workplaces 2018

Operator: lwahowskidoell Desc: Time: 02-14-2018 12:38 Jobname:

LARGE COMPANIES NO. 4
PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR LIVING

APRIL GAMIZ/THE MORNING CALL
Residents and staff meet to discuss dining options at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem. Presbyterian Senior Living prioritizes balanced and nutritious meals for their residents.
Managers at Presbyterian Senior Living

aren't afraid to get hands dirty

Employees empower and celebrate one another.

By Margie Peterson month, when employees are treated to Top Workplace among large employers in dirty,” said Jennifer Woolley, Easton
Special to The Morning Call goodies such as apple churros and apple the 2018 survey. Home community life coordinator. “If the
cider. With 245 employees, Kirkland Village garbage needs to be collected, we have
ou might think there’s a gaping “It’s basically about empowerment, is the biggest of the three, but staff and managers that go around and collect
divide between working in elder being in the moment, having fun and management strive to make it homey for garbage. So it doesn’t matter what your
care and selling fish at a market, celebrating each other like a family,” said residents. level is, we all help each other out.”
Y but employees at Presbyterian McHenry, who has worked there for 11 Anisha Knight, a certified nurse’s aide That spirit of “we’re all in this to-
Senior Living communities in the Lehigh years. who has been at Kirkland Village for three gether” is also true for bonds that form
Valley would beg to differ. McHenry says employees at Westmin- years, recalls the snowstorm in March between staff and residents, says Wendy
The Westminster Village continuing ster bring those principles to their work 2017 that dropped about a foot of snow on Clouse, a cook/server at Kirkland Village.
care community in Allentown adopted the with senior citizens. Bethlehem. Knight was one of the work- “I used to say ‘they’re my extended
“Fish! Philosophy” from a Seattle fish “Thanking people is free, and it’s con- ers who was already at Kirkland and family,’ Clouse said. “They’re not. They
market called the World Famous Pike tagious,” she said. “People kind of forget ended up staying the whole weekend ARE my family. I often wonder who is
Place Fish, where employees toss each that.” because other employees couldn’t make it here for who.”
other fish as they work and greet strangers That attitude is just one of the things into work, and she had to cover their Heidi Groner, Easton Home marketing
like friends. A documentary about the fish that makes Westminster Village, Kirkland shifts. assistant, agreed.
market showed its secrets to success: Be Village in Bethlehem and the Easton “The residents were so appreciative,” “I always say I have 53 grandparents,”
emotionally present for people, have fun Home great places to work, employees Knight said. “They were so worried about Groner said. “We share our babies with
at work, find ways to delight the people say. All three are part of Presbyterian us.” them, they share their grandchildren with
you serve and choose to have a good Senior Living (PSL) in the Lehigh Valley, Managers at the retirement communi- us.”
attitude. which entered the Top Workplaces com- ties pitched in to shovel snow and do other Employees say the wages and benefits
Sarah McHenry, the assistant director petition as one entity this year instead of tasks, eschewing an “it’s not my job” are very competitive, and the tuition reim-
of dining services at Westminster, looks individual workplaces as they had in the attitude. bursement program makes it affordable to
forward to Fish Friday Fun Day once a past. The nonprofit was named the No. 4 “They’re not afraid to get their hands
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14 2018 ❘ TOP WORKPLACES