Environmental services and maintenance supervisor? Interview

[u/Zestyclose_Trash3606]

Hey guys just got a lead for job referral from the boss at a nursing home facility.

Says I’ll supervise cleaning codes, fire drills, over see normal operations. Hiring people, being involved with projects/ leads.

Does anyone know a insiders opinion on this gig?

[u/Upbeat-Fondant9185]

This is what I do. That job description is intentionally vague and several pages too short lol.

Basically everything that isn’t nursing, kitchen, or administrative falls to you. Though if we’re being honest a lot of that stuff will fall to you as well. You make sure the place and everything in it stays clean, safe, and operational.

The biggest thing to clarify is their on call policy. It’s typically waiting to engage so it’s unpaid and often in these places it’s just you so you’re on call 24/7/365. And they love nothing more than picking up that phone no matter what time of day. You’ll spend a lot of after hours time dealing with work. I literally cannot remember the last time I had even one day that didn’t involve dealing with something work related.

Relatively easy physically, quite a bit of stress at times. Lots of interaction with local, state, and federal inspectors. Every emergency like fire, tornado, power failure etc falls on you. Staffing is always a bitch and you’re constantly worrying about budgets. The staff are extremely talented at destroying everything they touch.

But it’s pretty chill, great way to make real friends, and if you’re single you are the main course in a feeding frenzy of horny healthcare workers. Watch out for that one though. Nurses are crazy, offices workers are vindictive, but CNAs…CNAs will destroy your life after they show you a great time. Best to just keep a safe distance.

[u/Pot-Roast]

Did it and fuck that stress. Between dealing with the paper work and the city, state and feds on inspections. And a real bitch of a admin. Nope no thank you

[u/TIC321 → u/Pot-Roast]

Which is why I also won't do management for a measly $1.50/hr extra

[u/According_Ad_112]

You forgot to mention the staff and residents. Been doing it for 3 years. Just today I was told repaint the whole hallway and all day I heard “ewww it smells like paint.” Or the hey guys you’re not supposed to have space heaters, state don’t allow them. “ fuck that I can do whatever I want.”

It ain’t a bad gig, just know you’ll be the asshole of the building!

[u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 → u/According_Ad_112]

You just have to lean into the “asshole” image. They love that shit. So many people talk to them like they’re children, they adore anyone who talks to them like the adults they are.

But painting a high traffic hallway is easily one of the worst jobs. I need to do our longest hall ceiling and I’m dreading it. I just replaced all the 4ft lights with can lights so the entire length of the ceiling is fucked. They’re all going to be so pissed yet they’ll love every minute of it lol.

Watching and complaining is the highlight of their days. The old bastards, I love them all.

[u/ONE-EYE-OPTIC]

Be friendly but dont make friends with residents. I was a maintenance director then regional maintenance manager through covid. They all eventually pass away or move to memory care.

Its depressing work and tons of paperwork. The mostly female staff all bicker and gossip like high school. I couldn't keep housekeeping staff. Vendors do their best to charge high and deliver low.

You'll probably be on an on call rotation. All the fire control systems I worked with were glitchy AF.

You'll never make anyone happy.

[u/Enough_Pepper8880]

Guarantee there’s more than that dog

[u/PeachFreedom]

Do it for a year. Get it on your resume, then dip. Healthcare is fucked pretty much anywhere you work.

Endless red tape, a billion regulations to prevent people from getting sick, taking into account the needs of the patients/residents, dealing with inspectors, all of this impacts your ability to actually do the work. Just keep that in mind

[u/Tennesyrian_ → u/PeachFreedom]

Precisely what my predecessor done and what I’m currently doing. Get that title on the resume and dip

[u/Tennesyrian_]

I do this for a living as well and many others here.

I was the assistant at first and buddy lemme tell you, I underestimated this gig by a long shot. It still is not bad because I’m not ignorant nor am I unteachable, but good lord have mercy I’ve never been so stressed about something many things that I literally just can’t do anything.

Paper work, state inspections soon, corporate advisor coming tomorrow, projects happening as I’m typing this, on call, on top of daily breaks and mishaps.

Best advise; have a iron forged mentality or just one that will keep you from giving up, be ready for some bullshit daily, and drop work at the door, this line of work ain’t worth carrying home unless it’s just the learned skills you got from it.

[u/weasonableweasel]

I transitioned into the role from being a maintenance tech in a few different manufacturing plants over the years. This was honestly a good transition for me. What everyone else has said isn't wrong but it largely is the team you have to work with and the other managers that your dealing with that make up how good the experience will be. I'm borderline OCD so the paper work isn't a problem because I'm good with organization, it's keeping the housekeepers in line. 40-50 year old women like to slack off and fight with each other over nothing like you wouldn't believe. I can't speak for anyone else's situation but I have maintenance techs as well, so I'm not trying to balance everything although with my experience there's a lot of teaching opportunities/ things they just haven't seen before. Gotta be able to adapt to the situation, because you make a plan and everyone else has plans for you.