“A great employee is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have.” Tammy Cohen
Although March 5, 2021, was the national Employee Appreciation Day, I want to take this moment to say just how very lucky New Danville is when it comes to employees. In my time here, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated employees I have ever met. Their job is not easy, but they do it with grace and genuine affection for those we serve. They bring passion and dedication in making a positive difference in the lives of so many. It truly is an absolute privilege to have them on our team. It is hard to express just how much we value each and every one of them.
Of particular pride is our very low turnover rate. The national average for Direct Support Professionals is a shocking 51.3%. For 2020, New Danville had a turnover rate of 2%. For many agencies, employees leave faster than they can be replaced and this has a detrimental effect on adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The constant change in staff and lack of routine and consistency impacts not only operations but more importantly the quality of service being offered. Luckily, our adults have support staff that are dedicated, passionate, and committed to our mission. Their ability to work as a team and pitch in to help each other is admirable. This past year with the COVID-19 crisis, our employees worked together to help us through the worst of times. And, even though some had to be furloughed for an extended period of time, they have all returned to their positions. We are the best at what we do because we have the best employees. Whether it is in direct support, maintenance, grounds keeping, or office support staff, we truly have the best of the best.
It is easy to hire people; it’s much harder to keep them, and especially hard to hire the right people that are committed to doing this kind of work. On behalf of myself, and the entire management team, we would like to express just how valuable each and every employee is to the success of New Danville. We look forward to our vision for the future and to what we can accomplish together.
