Elgin Mental Health Center

Elgin Mental Health Center has a very racially divided work environment. One particular ethnic group controls the facility with little to no regard given to the other ethnic groups represented by staff. The work environment is extremely UNSAFE. The residents OFTEN ATTACK the staff and injure them severely. The residents have more rights than the staff and are rarely held accountable for their actions. All of the residents are not mentally ill; some are faking illness to avoid jail and take full advantage of the system. Those are the ones who fight, attack, and make false reports on staff to get them fired. These people have learned the system and appeal to their caseworkers, lawyers, and social workers as if they are helpless, mentally ill patients. Also, Elgin has a made-up rule to "mandate" employees to work an additional shift, back to back, up to 3 or 4 times weekly. If staff refuse to work the additional shift, they are penalized. The staff are often tired, overworked, and made to spend unacceptable amounts of time away from their homes. The whole system is corrupt and anchored in fear of penalties. Additionally, it is overrun and infested with rodents and cockroaches. When you turn on the lights in the kitchen, it appears the floor is moving because there are so many roaches. The mice run freely through the units, nursing stations, medication rooms, and hallways. The staff often catch them in traps and throw the mice in the trash. Highly UNSANITARY place to work. Highly UNSAFE place to work. The pay is good. The overtime is good, if you want it, but not if you don't. The CULTURE IS TRASH.