Are you “stuck” in a job that offers no opportunity for advancement and greater responsibility? You’re not alone.
In a June 9, 2024, Bloomberg article entitled, “Promotions are hard to come by, blocking entry-level workers from even starting,” authors Daniel Neligh, Jo Constantz and Ella Ceron reported that fewer people are getting promoted. They added, “that leaves little room for new workers to break through, as the ranks of employees above stay in place. And it makes it more difficult for young graduates to get their foot in the door.”
What may be true of the marketplace as a whole, isn’t necessarily true of all employers. Career development at Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), the nation’s third largest nonprofit senior living and services provider based in St. Paul, Minn., counters this trend.
Advancement at Presbyterian Homes & Services
Every year, hundreds of employees are promoted within PHS to jobs having greater responsibility and pay. In fact, since 2020 – a span of just more than four-and-a-half years – more than 2,100 employees have received promotions at PHS. Not bad for an organization having 8,000 total employees.
- Resident assistants (RAs) became certified
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) became trained medication aides (TMAs)
- TMAs became LPNs
- LPNs became RNs
- RNs became clinical coordinators
- Housekeeping services assistants became managers
- … And the pattern continues in every functional area of the organization. Some employees also chose to move from one discipline – like nutrition and culinary – to a completely different one, like human resources!
Having multiple avenues for growth
PHS supports employee efforts to grow through professional certifications, vocational training, programs and college/university degrees that empower them to advance the mission of the organization.
Some of this training takes place in-house at PHS. In conjunction with LeadingAge, a national community of nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-driven organizations serving older adults, PHS created PHS OnTrack™ Training, a 10-day training program for resident assistants to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). The program has resulted in hundreds of staff “moving up” in responsibility and pay.
PHS also offers several education assistance programs. These include a scholarship program available to employees pursuing further education in the field of aging services (and other programs that enhance PHS’ mission). Eligible employees may apply for up to $5,250 each calendar year for this educational assistance.
Similarly, PHS offers a Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program for recently hired LPNs and RNs. In this program, employees receive reimbursement for educational loans – paid quarterly – for the minimum loan payments (not loan balance).
Finally, all active PHS employees are eligible for a tuition discount at six Twin Cities-based universities: Augsburg University, Bethel University, Concordia University – St. Paul, Rasmussen University, St. Catherine University, and the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The tuition discounts vary by school and degree. This offers great incentives for employees to pursue their passions and build their careers at PHS.
Beyond these programs, PHS makes time for employees to attend webinars, conferences, workshops and continuing education courses related to their work in aging services. Many of these opportunities serve to maintain the employees’ certifications and prepare them for potential advancement.
As an organization dedicated to innovation and excellence, PHS encourages continuous learning among its staff members. Professional growth leads to ever-increasing service excellence, a value the organization prizes.
Opportunities are only limited by one’s dreams
The opportunities available are only limited by one’s dreams. Two PHS employees stand as examples:
- Paige Weaver started working for PHS in 2012 as a server, feeling it was a perfect summer job before going away to college. She fell in love with the mission of enriching the lives of older adults. While attending college, she drove home on weekends to serve meals to residents at a nearby PHS senior living community. From there, she started working at PHS as a full-time administrative assistant. That led to her advancement as nutrition and culinary supervisor, resident services director, and homecare services coordinator. Today, she serves as campus administrator with both a master’s degree and a Licensed Assisted Living Director certification.
- Israel Omariba followed a similar career trajectory. Over the last 25 years with PHS, Israel rose from resident assistant, to registered nurse to clinical administrator. This took place as a result of his commitment to professional growth, education assistance from PHS and the encouragement of his family, coworkers and supervisors.
- There are hundreds more employees who take advantage of PHS’ educational support.
Feeling “stuck” is no fun. If you find yourself in the same job for too long, know that professional development just may be the key that unlocks near endless career opportunities for you.
To learn more about employment with PHS visit the Careers page.
