TX coordinator (Former Employee), El Paso – May 8, 2013
Pros: long term friends
Cons: just about everything
Worst place I ever worked in. Favoritism, low pay, and unrealistic expectations. The organization is a cut throat environment and management allows it to happen. It is Christian-based but there is nothing Christian based about it. It's a cut throat environment. If you can avoid it, don't work here.
Family Preservation Specialist (Former Employee), Ohio – February 27, 2013
Pros: the kids
Cons: just about everything
Working here reminded me of the rowing scene from Ben Hur. 'Ramming Speed' and nothing else is required to keep up with the demands of this job--home visits, paperwork, driving, phone calls and all the fires that need to be put out every day. And when it all becomes too much--you collapse and are unchained from your bench, thrown overboard by the sad, – more... sorry excuse for management and another poor sap takes your place for as long he or she can stand it. There is no appreciation. Minimal thanks. You are told what you didn't do, not what you did. Your mistakes are highlighted but rarely your accomplishments. In order for this agency to stand a chance the State Director on up needs to be replaced. Many hardworking and talented people have walked away from this place and abused and traumatized children lose workers who care about them simply because the agency is so poorly run. Its sad. Truly sad. New hires begin looking for other jobs within months of hire. Save yourself the time. Don't bother and consider yourself lucky. – less
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Good fit for the right person
Behavior Analyst (Current Employee), Tulsa, OK – February 16, 2013
Pros: helping people
Cons: easy burn out, no benefits, no reimbursement for mileage
This takes a lot of care and time to be able to understand the totality of the position. You have to be able to get along with all types of people, their culture and understand the needs of clients and those taking care of them. The burn out seems to be really quick in healthcare especially in this particular field. Working with children can be fun – more... but it can also be stressful when you know their background and situations. – less
Former employer (Former Employee), Pennsylvania – February 9, 2013
Pros: some staff
Cons: pay, caseloads, management, travel, ect
I would recommend that any new social workers in the field reconsider applying for a position with this company. Low pay, large caseloads, traveling, and upper management will burn you out quickly. This company is extremely "money hungry" and will assign services that are inappropriate or a waste of time. I will say that I really enjoyed the staff and – more... the values/ goals of this company but overall staying with this company would have been detrimental. – less
Don't Let Your Heart Lead You Into Making A Bad Professional Decision
LSSW (Current Employee), Kent, Ohio – November 24, 2012
Pros: co-workers, some foster families, the kids
Cons: favoritism, low pay, long hours, management, excessive paperwork
Pay is low and increases minimally. No negotiation on anything monetary. There is an element of stinginess in all things Bair from the health benefits (terrible) to the dental benefits (worse) to the mileage (12 cents a mile below federal rate) and you know they are making good money with billing Medicaid and the county contracts. They do no appreciate – more... their workers with the case manager turnover like nothing I have ever seen before. The standard operating procedure is burn 'em out, throw 'em out and get some more. Jobs are posted but 'they' already have someone picked out to fill them so there is no mobility unless you are in good with the right people and drink the Kool Aid. Any attempt to change procedures or voice a contrary opinion to policies will get you blacklisted. Although the philosophy is admirable, the ministry label is used to exploit workers into long hours, low pay and mindless subservience with a touch of guilt if you don't. It works for some people but almost everyone there is unhappy for one reason or another. Make this agency your last resort. – less
I agree with you 100% This company is not what it is cracked up to be. You said it best when you said: "The standard operating procedure is burn 'em out, throw 'em out and get some more." I have been working in one of their offices for 1 year and I have been applying for jobs everyday. I am praying that God gets me out of there soon!!! This is NOT a ministry this is a trap to get people in and then use them up.
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Great staff and foster families.
Foster Care Specialist (Former Employee), Altoona, PA – October 12, 2012
Work day typically 8:30-4:30 but could be longer depending on location of your foster families and their availability. The most difficult part of the job is remaining impartial as you may grow very close to the children who have been placed in foster care.
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Would not recommend this company to anyone
Casemanager (Former Employee), Richmond, VA – September 28, 2012
Pros: nice clerical staff and team members
Cons: pay, caseload size, work expectations, structure of agency, reputation in the community
This company claims to offer a pleasant place to work where people support you. This is far from truth. The director has created a sad work environment and everything is about squeezing as much work out of employees as possible. The work expectations are unrealistic and management loves to play the blame game. The pay is poor but the still isn't the – more... worst thing about working there. The company has frequent turn over and stability is a major issue. Overall, the company expects too much from one person and is unwilling to hire additional help because they are cheap! I would encourage anyone to keep looking! – less
Former employee (Former Employee), Houston tx – July 19, 2012
Pros: met new lifetime friends
Cons: poor leadership from regional director, long work hours and ad pay and reienbursement
Very long work hours. Only paid for 7.5 hours daily but may work up to 12 to 15 hours a day with no flex time and told that is what you agreeded to upon hire by regional director. Poor leadership from regional director. Most ssw's has more education than the regional director. The is a LOT OF PAPERWORK which is very unrealistic for workers and staff. – more... I did not go to school 6 years to push paper. If that where the case, i would have applied for the job while in high school. No advancement, huge caseloads, and no regards to travel time in the city of Houston. Benefits are very expensive and pay and mileage is VERY LOW. Not a very diverse place to work. Outsider always feel that their way is the best way with no regards to experienced staffs opinions. There have been certain comments made( use your imagination). If you can deal with this type of working environment, then this is the place for you. – less
Social Service Worker (Former Employee), San Antonio – June 27, 2012
Pros: amazing people
Cons: worst job ever
I met the best friends I could ever ask for here. DON'T APPLY unless of course you are a workaholic and want to do nothing but paperwork all day long and visits all night long. :(
national staff (Current Employee), New Wilmington, PA – June 20, 2012
Pros: excellent work environment, like a family
Cons: heartache for the children
In the last 14 years I have held various positions at Bair. The work is not easy when dealing with foster children and families in crisis. But the time invested is worth a changed life. I was able to take advantage of Bair's educational benefit to further my education. The company really tries to promote from within and it is refreshing to work with – more... like-minded believers. – less
Case Manager (Former Employee), Kent, OH – June 6, 2012
Pros: wonderful foster families to work with... reward is helping others.
Cons: no financial award
In my experience as a case manager, you end up working a lot of hours and a log of driving. Pay starts very low. I make more money doing office work (which is an underpaid field) than working as a case manager with a BA in Social Work. If you want to help people, this is a great place to work. But... Try to have a spouse/partner to be financially stable. – more... Otherwise, you will sink into debt. – less
Social Service Worker (Former Employee), Houston – May 17, 2012
Cons: horrible place to work
Houston office, very unorganized, no good management, very stressful job, have tremendously turnaround. I saw where people work there for two days go to lunch and don't come back. I think they have to hire new people at least every two weeks.
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Great place to work with supportive management
BHRS and Case Manager (Former Employee), McAlester, OK – March 1, 2012
Pros: freedom to set own schedule, good compensation
Cons: stressful job
TFC organization with firm values; pleasant work environment
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Great workplace, very rewarding doing for foster children
Payroll Clerk (Current Employee), New Wilmington, PA National office – January 27, 2012
Pros: close to home, enjoy work enviroment
Cons: no advancement, communication from supervisor
Great team or employees, all work well together. Worked in A/P and shortly in A/R before doing payroll. Great accounting staff that work together.
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Less than pleasent working environment.
Case Manager (Former Employee), Kent, ohio – November 15, 2011
Pros: lots of pot-luck lunches, director keeps agency focused.
Cons: office gossip, in-fighting, clicks.
Agency tries to serve foster children. Overall it does well. Lack of teamwork & co-operation between supervisors, and a lack of confidentiality by them caused a rift within the office. Made for an uncomfortable working environment.
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Hoodwinked – January 30, 2013
I agree with you 100% This company is not what it is cracked up to be. You said it best when you said: "The standard operating procedure is burn 'em out, throw 'em out and get some more." I have been working in one of their offices for 1 year and I have been applying for jobs everyday. I am praying that God gets me out of there soon!!! This is NOT a ministry this is a trap to get people in and then use them up.