Lifetime Assistance Increases Pay to $15.75/hour for Group Home Direct Support Professionals and Announces Retroactive Pay Increases for All Current Employees
Historic Action Being Taken to Recognize and Reward Exceptionally Dedicated Frontline Professionals and Enhance Recruitment
Rochester, NY—May 27, 2021—Jamie Branciforte, CEO of Lifetime Assistance, Inc., announced today that effective immediately Lifetime Assistance is implementing a significantly higher new wage of $15.75 for Direct Support Professionals in residential services (group homes). These essential caregivers provide direct care in all aspects of daily life to more than 1,800 individuals with developmental disabilities supported at Lifetime’s 75 locations.
Lifetime has openings for full-time, part-time, and relief Direct Support Professionals at several locations throughout the region. Interested candidates can learn more about career opportunities and apply online by visiting lifetimeassistance.applicantpro.com/jobs/1568279.html or by calling Human Resources at (585) 426-4120 ext. 5047. Applicants may also schedule phone and video interviews every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m.
Retroactive Pay Increases for All Active Employees
In an unprecedented move, Lifetime will also provide retroactive pay increases of $2 per hour going back to January 7, 2021, for all active full- and part-time Direct Service Professional employees and $1 per hour for all other active regular scheduled full and part-time employees to recognize and reward its exceptionally dedicated frontline employees. The increases are retroactive to January 7, 2021, and will be paid on June 18, 2021.
Lifetime Assistance, Inc. is the largest, most comprehensive agency in the Greater Rochester area serving children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The new higher wages for direct service employees are as follows:
The new Residential Services pay rate will be $15.75/hour.
The Residential Services shift differential will increase $.65/hour effective immediately.
The new Residential Relief pay rate will increase from $13.10 to $15/hour
The new Day Services Relief pay rate will increase from $12.50 to $14/hour
Retroactive increases for current full and part-time employees are as follows:
Active regular scheduled full and part-time Direct Support Professional employees will receive a pay increase of $2/hour on June 18, 2021, retroactive to January 7, 2021.
All other active regularly scheduled full and part-time employees will receive a $1/hour increase on June 18, 2021, retroactive to January 7, 2021.
“Lifetime has a long history of valuing our exceptionally dedicated employees, who are the 'heart and soul' of our services,” said Branciforte. “New York State service funding for frontline caregivers is alarmingly deficient and seriously impacts our ability to recruit qualified employees for essential direct support positions. Underfunding frontline employee wages is a national crisis. We at Lifetime Assistance have aggressively pursued multiple alternate funding sources, and are very pleased to have recently been awarded federal covid relief funding to support developmental disability services. Our success in securing new funds has positioned us to provide meaningful employee pay increases. We are extremely proud of the amazing work of our diverse workforce, who sustain our tradition of caring and high-quality service. We hope that these increases will help us continue to attract and retain outstanding frontline employees who are compassionate and caring, and who are seeking meaningful and rewarding work and wages.”
In his announcement on retroactive pay increases to current employees, Branciforte said, “Thank you to each of you, our extraordinary Lifetime employees, who have stepped up like never before during the unimagined challenges of this past year. Thank you for continuing to exemplify our Lifetime mission of caring. Please know that you are essential to so many people who know you as family, and who call Lifetime home.”
Direct support professionals work full and part-time and on a relief basis providing daily support, assistance, and companionship to people with developmental disabilities who are served by Lifetime in all aspects of their life. They work in a variety of settings in the community including homes and day services centers.
Lifetime Assistance, Inc. is the largest, most comprehensive agency in the Greater Rochester area serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. It serves more than 1,800 people every day at more than 75 sites providing a full spectrum of individualized services to help children and adults with developmental disabilities reach their maximum potential by promoting self-reliance, independence, dignity, and success. Lifetime is accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership. Only 300 agencies nationwide and just 10% of agencies in New York State have earned this honor, demonstrating the highest quality of service.
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