Throughout her career, Rhianna Zalewski served various roles in the assisted living arena, including activities director, memory care community assistant, assisted living coordinator, and associate executive director. When she earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration last August, it opened doors previously unavailable to her.
Having been employed by a small community, she desired to find an employer that would offer opportunities for advancement while still enabling her to work with older adults. A recruiter suggested a role with Seabrook, an Erickson Senior Living-managed community in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. While that opportunity had been filled, a home care assistant administrator position was available. It was similar to the job she held, but as she learned about Erickson, she found the nationally renowned senior living leader an appealing prospective employer.
“I was impressed with the culture of teamwork and support at Seabrook,” Zalewski notes. “It’s not just one person on call, handling requests around the clock without a break. It’s about developing relationships and working together to do the best we can for our residents. It’s the support and collaboration that enables a comfortable work-life balance for everyone.”
The support extends beyond the individual department where they work. New team members meet one-on-one with executive team leaders, are assigned a mentor through a structured mentorship program, and are paired with a “buddy” to help them acclimate. They build successful working relationships that are reflected in their productivity and job satisfaction.
In addition, during monthly employee town hall meetings, leadership shares information about Erickson’s financial stability, mission, vision and values, and openings around the country, keeping everyone up-to-date about company developments, explains Jim MacDonald, Seabrook’s human resources director.
“We also celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and commemorations that are important to people,” MacDonald adds. “We celebrate people as individuals and show them how important they are to the community. It’s aligned with our mission of helping people live better lives. It’s a cornerstone of our culture, and that’s why people want to work here.”
In addition, Zalewski was impressed with the support provided through benefits, including a generous vacation and paid time off package, competitive salary with merit increases, healthcare benefits, 401K and flexible spending accounts, and access to onsite medical care and a wellness fund.
“There’s also the opportunity to complete more education and professional development to move up the ladder. Being able to strive for larger roles and seeing that others have held three and four roles in the company, that says a lot,” she adds.
As Erickson continues to expand, adding new communities across the country and enhancing the services offered to residents, the need for top talent is paramount. With a constantly changing job market, Erickson remains focused on caring for its employees and residents.
“The services we offer to more than 30,000 residents nationwide are only as good as the people providing them,” said Alan Butler, chief executive officer of Erickson Senior Living. “This is why we take the hiring process very seriously in order to identify the best people. As a growth company with a bright future, we strive to be an employer of choice by providing an unparalleled workplace experience.”
To learn more about exciting career opportunities at Seabrook, visit Erickson Senior Living’s careers website.
