We need managers. And, as always, a challenge at an unfunded non-profit like TLC is to find and keep good ones. It’s a job you seldom see advertised in the paper.
The manager must work long hours for little pay. He or she must listen to complaints from ungrateful clients. They have to help clients find jobs - then not have a meltdown when the client moves to another halfway house with the first paycheck - while owing us hundreds of dollars. They should be able to repair old buildings with a lot of plumbing, air conditioning and electrical problems. They need the street smarts to figure out whether a client is lying about where they were all day. They have to decide whether a client is high – or maybe just tired from a long day at work. They have to lovingly confront clients about bad behavior and maybe drug test them. On top of this, they have to answer to addict and alcoholic supervisors who aren’t easy to please.
And they do the job without health insurance, company credit card or retirement benefits.
So what kind of a masochist signs up for this? Not sure of the psychological profile but our successful managers have several things in common:
-Living clean and sober is their priority.
-Love helping others – especially other addicts.
-Went through our program and worked their way up as a volunteers.
-Have a strong work ethic.
-Don’t have pressing family or financial obligation
-Have found friends and an extended family at TLC.
Anyone looking for work?
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