One, St. Lawrence ARC keeps employees in part-time positions even when they work them (an hour short at most) full-time hours every week. They don't want to pay their employees benefits. Mark Keller has a fit if an employee gets paid overtime.
Two, their wages are the lowest in all of ARC employment across the state. Franklin county is the poorest county in NY, yet they pay their employees more per hour. The hourly wage is barely above minimum in most instances, and raises are not regular. Employees do not recieve holiday pay and employees who work holidays get no additional benefits.
Three, administration is not familiar with their clientele. I can only speak for Mark Keller here. He doesn't have any idea how hard his employees work or even what the work is. He was ousted from his previous employment (ministry nontheless), so they sent him to work for a human services agency?! It's preposterous.
Four, clients recieve inadequate funding for their care. Keller would rather see people tear up old towels to use as wash cloths rather than spring for new ones.
Five, they have sadly brainwashed employees against a union. God forbid they have anyone to defend themselves. Employees have actually said they don't want the money coming from their paychecks. With a union protecting them, I GUARANTEE the benefits far outweigh the costs. Maybe if they spent their money from anti-union propoganda on something more constructive... Like say washcloths! Many don't join for fear of losing their jobs (a very real prospect). The labor boards don't respond to this because it's a human service agency but come on!
Finally, I have personally witnessed the disgusting maltreatment of employees by Mark Keller. Cannot say details as to identify them. The sad thing is they think it's the best they can do given the circumstances.
I cannot speak for the entire agency given the information I am aware of. It is an admirable work and most employees genuinely care about the clients and want to protect them. Keller is not one.
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