Melmark Reviews

Wow. I don't know where to start. I think about what happened to me at Melmark almost every day, I hope this brings me some peace. The way you treat people is important, it's not all about having poor body positioning. Although you can function on a 4 staff, 7 student ratio, you need more staff than that with challenging behaviors. It's not fair or safe for the other 6 students to sit around while sometimes all 4 staff need to manage the challenging behavior. You legally can't tell someone they need to work when they call out. You legally can't work more than 7 hours without a break. If anyone ever tells me "l'm not a dainty flower" again, I'm going to lose my mind. I gave it my all, but I'm replaceable. I'm so thankful to have met all the students' wonderful families, I just couldn't be treated like that anymore. I encourage staff to learn their rights, and know that you can make a difference in this wonderful field while working for a company that cares about you too.

Melmark New England sits upon the mouth of Hell. Administration will reap your soul and use it to pay tribute to the demons dwelling below. Seriously, this place will crush your joy. They will overload you with paperwork and give you no time to complete it properly. When you do the best you can in the time allotted, you will be nitpicked and micromanaged instead of thanked for your effort. You will also be required to create detailed priority lists that specify down to the minute how long you worked on each task assigned to you. Because that is what is helpful for people who don't have time to compete their work - more work. If you are out sick, they will harass you about doctor's notes and when you will be coming back. They have even gone as far as to CALL MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE and request PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION about me. Illegal. If you are hurt there dealing with behaviors, you will be blamed for having poor body positioning. They will show you no sympathy, but instead make you feel stupid for "letting" yourself get injured. If you require medical attention, you will sometimes be forced to wait to leave the facility to see a doctor. I have seen people with broken bones having to wait over an hour to be seen at a walk in. Oh, and don't think you can see your own doctor, no. Melmark will refuse to pay for that. They will require you to go to a walk in they have a contract with. The incompetent doctor at the walk in will give you a sub par examination and clear you for work even though you are injured. When it comes to holiday bonuses, you will be extrememly insulted. After working there for 3 years, I received a $12 holiday bonus and a letter gushing about how "thankful" adminstration is to have me. Then I was told by the director of my program that if I wanted to leave work an hour early before the holidays, I would have to use my vacation time, because what I do is "just like working at Burger King" and Burger King doesn't pay employees for time they didn't work.