This is going to be long. Every role in this organization is high stress with unliveable wages, except management. I’ve never seen more people cry in the workplace from stress than I have with Arbor.
Arbor is stifling because there is absolutely no room for growth, especially if you are not a licensed funeral director. Even if licensed, you have to wait until someone retires from management because that’s the only advancement option. On top of this, people who’ve had management in their role title have randomly had it taken away so they can’t find jobs elsewhere. For example, you’ll be a decedent care manager then suddenly your title is changed to decedent care specialist without reason. They also like to give the illusion of growth by “promoting” you to a “senior something” which comes with more work but not more pay…maybe you’d get $1 more per hour if you’re lucky.
Management gets paid $1-200k annually but it doesn’t look like they’re doing much work and they get company provided brand new Cadillacs and Lincolns for personal use.
Funeral Directors have to go on call and take calls all hours of the day/night (unpaid) and work anywhere between 6-10 days in a row. We are required to take any and all kinds of abuse from customers.
I don’t know anyone in the company (in non-management roles) that makes over $60k and you’re lucky and probably have been with the company for 10+ years if you reach $60k.
Arbor is archaic in comparison to other organizations. The majority of people in my social circles are now working from home, make at least $65k, have weekends off and have learning and advancement opportunities…all while dealing with far less stress.
Admin works incredibly hard and deals with a lot of sensitive and uncomfortable situations that they shouldn’t have to deal with and make under $50k. They are required to act as admin, funeral directors, accountants, customer service reps, personal assistants and bookkeepers all at once.
A top performing funeral director who’d been with the company for 5 years was only making $50k.
The pay and bonuses are not worth the mental and physical toll.
Also, the advertised wages online for funeral directors is a blatant lie so that you waste your time going to school only to make approximately 50-55k. They want to get people in the door because this industry is dying, no pun intended.
Staff are unable to keep up with the rising cost of everything and our clientele, excessive hard work and stressful situations leaves all of us burnt out.
Honestly, if you want to work extremely hard, deal with a lot of stress and have a terrible schedule, become a nurse or something that at least pays accordingly. Small start-up companies pay more than this multi million/billion dollar corp
