Pros
I work as a regional manager of this company. I have been in the business for many years and have worked for other healthcare companies. I've been fortunate to work for some great companies and I think this is one of them. I think a great company balances business and people and makes sure to take care of it's employees, not just financially but also to listen to them, get to know them, and actually care about them beyond the job duty. It's not often that you find the COO and other senior managers taking the time to not only listen to staff at all levels but take action and make changes based on what is shared. This is done all the time at Meridian. You will find the direct care staff talking to and laughing along with the senior management staff when they visit the building. Senior managers are called by first name, they don't wear fancy suits, and they aren't title happy. The company has a program where they make it a point to find out about the employee as a whole person, actually filling out an employee profile to get to know them better, their interests, their hobbies, what's important to them in a work environment, etc. I know firsthand that they are still trying to make sure all the communities are educated and practicing this and though someone may experience a situation where this hasn't happened, it's important to know that this is the expected practice and culture by community management. I also know they are paying in many cases more than their competitors. I hear the talk, I see the walk, and I know that this culture is very important to them. They want good people who care about their residents and work hard at making their buildings feel great. This is a company that actually includes you in decisions and that doesn't like the answer, "because corporate said so". They explain the why and they're open to listening to your opinions. I have been in meetings with divisional and regional managers and know they want this at their communities; they are not just about the bottom line. People would be surprised at how much talk goes into what we can do to better the lives of the staff and residents. They work hard to try to keep their community managers in tune with this. I am happy to be working for a progressive and caring organization. I'm glad I chose to work for them.
Cons
The company is still growing and managers continue to need training. At times people will encounter a new manager that was with another company that was more top down and they are still learning about Meridian's culture. Employees should not be afraid to share their concerns in case they run into a supervisor that doesn't follow Meridian culture. It happens but most important there are other there to listen and fix.