• Starting wage is $18.50/hour with full benefits package
Lincoln Self Reliance is experiencing a critical shortage of staff members. Three positions in Thayne and three positions in Afton, which make up 30% of the necessary employees for those locations, are currently vacant.
“We’ve gone all summer with very few applications coming in for employment,” said Darrel Skinner, Director of LSR. The government-funded organization offers full benefits with medical, dental and vision plans as well as 401K option with a 5% company match. Though Skinner believes that the starting wage, at $18.50 per hour, should draw interest, the program continues to face staffing shortages.
“We are paying more per hour than what we’re being funded for, and we are able to offset those costs with our fundraising activities and revenue through our thrift store, which brings in money to help offset those costs,” Skinner added. “Even at $18.50 an hour, we’re still struggling to get people to apply.”
Applicants need no prior work experience. They must be at least 18-years-old and undergo a background screening. Once the background screening is complete, LSR provides all training in-house free of charge to the trainee. This training offers state certification among other skills and knowledge. “We do MANDT, which is a crisis de-escalation training,” said Skinner. “We also provide other types of training with regulations that we adhere to it’s all provided in house with no cost for the individual.
Skinner said that several of the LSR employees have remained with the company for year, growing and earning with the company. “We have several men working for us right now which is really nice, but it’s really female employees that were short on right now.” The challenge comes for college students or young mothers who are unable to maintain full-time status.
Successful applicants would be asked to lift as much as 50 pounds on occasion. Mechanical devices relieve physical demands on support staff as they work to lift residents. Staff members provide personal care to residents in wheelchairs and who need potential support getting in and out of bed. They need extra support for a fulfilling life experience.
“Daily activities would include getting someone dressed in the morning and assisting them with breakfast. They would help transport them to day-programming and different activities going on during the day in the community. They’ll do some shopping or go to different activities in the middle of the week. They might have a bowling activity at the bowling alley. In the summertime, we have individuals who go to Jackson for horseback riding or to activities at the hot springs. They go snow machining, four wheeling, boating, and camping. Our staff members simply spend time with residents and provide support.”
