As a result from all the many “recent” reviews from current and past employees, it is apparent that the owner feels the need to defend the company. I get it, but here’s what I feel needs to be taken into account when someone is reading or “reviewing” these opinions.
It was said that the owner makes herself available 24/7. This is because she micromanages every management staff that directly reports to her so that she is aware of every aspect of her company. This means that you are required to cc the owner in every single email. There is no autonomy or ability to gain confidence in your work when everything is being monitored or has to be approved before being sent. Also, if you’re on the management team, the expectation is that you have to make yourself available 24/7 as well, otherwise like it was said “if you can’t play with the big dogs, go home” indicative that you would be reprimanded if you don’t answer emails on weeknights, weekends or if you’re on vacation (better not turn off that blackberry folks!). Further to this point, the owner does not reimburse you for your blackberry phone or data plan. It is the expectation for you to cover those costs.
It was also noted that the owner is very generous with donating over 1 million dollars to charity yet she will not invest in her staff. Let me explain what I mean with the following:
1. There are no benefits. Period. How does a physiotherapy company not provide staff with extended health benefits? Oh wait, it’s because you won’t have time to have a massage or go to physio anyway because you have to work 24/7.... right, I forgot.
2. There are no sick days – you just can’t be sick (i.e., you come in when you’re sick and act like you’re not sick – i.e. you endanger seniors in long term care homes that you visit, you increase the chance of an outbreak for the long term care homes and even get colleagues in the office sick).
3. You are allotted 10 vacation days but you are expected to check emails when you are on vacation. The owner does not want you to set your Outlook with an automated “Out of Office” reply during your vacations because you are expected to answer your emails while you’re away.
4. According to Labour Laws, if you work over 48 hours a week, your employer is required to pay you overtime pay unless it’s in your contract that you agree to work more than the limit on hours of work, which is likely the reason why you are forced to be considered ‘self-employed’.... but even self-employed individuals shouldn’t work 24/7!
5. Bereavement or Compassionate Days – YOU DON’T GET ANY! Gosh, if a loved one died, you don’t get paid while you attend the funeral. If your family is ill or requires chemotherapy treatments, you can't get time off to deal with family emergencies.
It was mentioned that all physiotherapists who work for Achieva get paid well (80K – 100K), however, they did not reference the fact that the physiotherapists have to take a pay cut from their “high salary” to pay for their physiotherapy assistants. Also, all the physiotherapist are required to be SELF-EMPLOYED and correct me if I’m wrong but if you’re self-employed aren’t you free to control your own schedule, earnings, training and etc... however as a physiotherapist at Achieva you are under a dictatorship and contract and have to abide by what the owner tells you to do.
It is true that there are physiotherapists who have worked for Achieva for over 20 years, however they are not under the direct supervision of the owner. So it makes sense that they have stuck around for longer than most management staff.
It was noted on several reviews that the company created a “positive environment” and that the owner constantly provided positive feedback. This is true, yes, but this should be a norm for all companies and does not deserve a pat on the back. It’s apparent that this company is trying really hard to convince the population that this is a very positive place to work. BUT I question that positivity - how can it be a positive environment when the company holds a “town hall” meeting inviting all physiotherapists (some of which who have had to travel from Sudbury, Ottawa etc to attend a mandatory evening event) and management staff informing everyone that they are ALL receiving their “Notice of Termination” due to the Ministry of Health’s announcement that they will be delisting OHIP physiotherapy services. Now after receiving notice that we are all terminated within 1 month’s time, the owner had announced that her management staff of 30 would be cut down to 4 positions and everyone is expected to fight for their jobs. Positivity? Hmm.
In another review, it was stated that this is the "best company to work for however it is expected that the management team is required to do some traveling and that this job is not a standard 9-5". Two things to note here: firstly, yes mileage is compensated but is significantly lower than the CRA recommended allowances of 54 cents per kilometer for the first 5000 kilometers driven and 48 cents per kilometer driven after that. When a question was asked about increasing the Achieva rate (due to increased gas prices, maintenance and simple curiosity), this particular staff member was chastised for asking and the rate remained unchanged. Secondly, this is not a standard 9-5 job, reiterating the fact that everyone is expected to put in the same amount of hours that the owner is putting in which is that magical number of 24/7.
One review mentioned that the owner is extremely positive and that they do not like to gossip or bad mouth but yet they comment on the “rift raft” staff, that they were “overly dramatic”, and “they were not very good for the company anyway” – is this not bad mouthing? It was also said in this particular review that “they were young and immature and the company did better when they were gone” so was this to say that the owner that hired these 8 staff made the mistake of hiring staff who were too young and immature
