Pros
WEAP employs some incredibly brilliant, passionate, and caring staff who are committed to their client's progress and well-being. Those people are the ones who make WEAP what it is for their clientele and reputation.
Cons
Before writing this review, I read through the 56 previous ones... Sadly, NOTHING has changed. "Management" (compromised of the executive team and clinical director as well as supervisors in the Friendship Tree) place emphasis on all the wrong aspects of running a company. Management has literally been heard stating that staff are replaceable and disposable. No effort is put into employee retention, and when it is, it is not done in the way employees are asking. Policies and "rules" are communicated through company newsletters in mass emails and are not easily assessable or understood in an organized fashion. There is no transparent pay raise/ promotional structure... in fact employees are paid differential and NOT based on their skill level.Many employees must demand a raise many times to actually ever see one. Some employees have worked for WEAP for 10+ years and have received minimal raises! It's ironic that a company who provides ABA (where the foundation of therapy practices for clients is ethically based on positive reinforcement) uses punishment when it comes to employee relations. Staff often will be blindsided when they've done something wrong with corrective action and do not receive the benefit of the doubt or given the respect of having a direct conversation from their immediate supervisor. Management and HR is often heard gossiping about other employees in unprofessional ways as well. This has created an environment of anxiety and paranoia at times; if you're doing something wrong, most likely you won't find out until it is well after the fact. There is a strong pattern that certain employees (those who seem to genuinely care about the best interest of their clients and techs) are the ones pushed out. Those are usually also the same people who stand up for what should be right within the company. Emphasis seems to be put on bringing in as many clients as possible even though WEAP cannot currently properly staff the existing clients they have. No emphasis is placed on tending to the needs of the existing employees; morale continues to decline amongst staff. Employees do not receive any meaningful ongoing training in ABA or autism. This includes BCBAs, BT therapists and technicians. Employees are not invested in, nor valued. They are taken advantage of. Employees are underpaid and overworked. If you complain at all, a target is often painted on your back. WEAP's management also seems to always have a few employees they continuously treat poorly. There is a strong passive aggressive culture within the clinic and this is created by the people in a position of leadership. Technicians in Friendship Tree have reported hearing supervisors gossip about other staff openly. Technicians are also not given breaks and are given an attitude or are rejected (and even threatened) when they ask for any time off. WEAP could be an amazing company to work for, but the wrong people continue to be in charge. If you don't have this experience at WEAP, it's because you've been lucky enough to be working in the field with a good clinical team!
