Educator - Elementary Teacher The Chicago Lighthouse Employee Review

I have worked at The Lighthouse for almost 2 years, and I have never met so many people dedicated to serving our mission community of the blind, visually impaired, otherwise disabled and Veterans. The leadership, led by the CEO and the Board, is committed to improving our employees' experiences with the same level of commitment the employees have for our patients and clients. There has been significant progress since I started and it’s continuing, with staff guiding the priorities and discussion.

No place is perfect, but the organization has identified and invested in key areas for growth and development and is committed to improving our employees' experiences.

Working from home after training and weekly pay

The management style here leaves much to be desired. There’s excessive micromanaging by individuals who lack the leadership skills necessary to effectively guide a team. Decisions that could easily be communicated via Teams are instead handled through unnecessary disruptions, such as system pauses, which come across as attempts to assert authority rather than foster collaboration. Leadership isn't about exerting control—it's about inspiring and guiding teams toward success. Dr. Szlyk has clearly made great strides in building a strong foundation for the organization, but unfortunately, these efforts are being undermined by ineffective management practices. It’s disappointing to see such potential being squandered. True leadership requires trust, clear communication, and empowerment—none of which seem to be prioritized here.