Peace Village is Awarded“Great Place To Work” for Second Year


When Maria Fe Fitzgerald, CNA, began working at Peace Village Senior Living in Palos Park, she thought everyone was smiling, asking how she was doing, and being so helpful because it was her first day. “But no,” she said, “this is how we work every day here."

That type of care and focus on staff’s welfare and teamwork is what prompted Village employees to overwhelmingly vote for Peace Village as a Fortune 100 Best “Great Place to Work” for the second year in a row.

Fitzgerald joined Peace Village about 18 months ago and knew it was a special place right from the beginning. “It was my first impression and it’s still true. This job is different and the administration is approachable. Other places make you feel like just a number. Here, you are somebody. People care about you. It’s more than a job. It’s a family and these people are more than co-workers.”

The culture and mission at the Village has inspired Fitzgerald to continue her education. “I was in sales for years and I had no joy. Now, I am getting my nursing degree so I can do more for my residents.”

That also holds true for Companion Caregiver Lisa Smith, who is working towards becoming a CNA. “Now, I see myself becoming a CNA; I really want it. I can offer more to my management and to our residents,” says Smith.

Smith was initially taken aback when Diane Oremovich, Health & Wellness Administrator, asked Smith how she was doing as they passed in the hallway of the Village. Smith thought she might have looked out of sorts. “No,” Smith smiles, “Diane was actually concerned about how I was doing as a person; she was just checking in with me.”

Smith says, “My favorite thing is that at the end of our shifts and the beginning of the night shifts, there is a quick meeting. Management is there and we have a daily report. They ask what kind of a day we had, what we’re concerned about, if anything is wrong and they update us on what’s new. That’s love, that’s care.” Inspired by the Village’s mission, she now sees senior care as a calling and a passion.

To Liz Uppstad, Peace Village management is as close to perfect as possible. “Not a month goes by without management hosting a party to celebrate us and show their appreciation. Ice cream socials, taco parties - they are always doing a phenomenal job telling us how good we do ours.”

Uppstad also values the relaxed and no-stress attitude that management cultivates. “If something comes up in your personal life, they understand and they make accommodations. We hear “don’t worry about it” and they really mean it. My boss Cindy Manley does not have an angry bone in her body.”

Liz Sieben, Retirement Living Counselor, agrees. “I make the trek from Naperville because of this management team. I have small children and needed a flexible schedule. Their attitude was “You are an asset to us and we will figure it out.” Would other administrations care as much? Management hires the right people and so we work together as a team.”

These sentiments are very evident in Peace Village’s Fortune’s 100 Best 2019 scores. Peace Village scored 98% in the categories of credibility, pride and camaraderie, significantly higher than the 100 Best benchmark. Joan Bertucci, Peace Village Human Resources Director, said that this year, the survey questions were different and more in depth, and that she was incredibly pleased that the Village’s ratings were even higher than last year, with 96% of employees saying Peace Village was indeed a Great Place To Work.

“We’re different,” says Bertucci. “You can feel it - it’s contagious. We have amazingly dedicated employees who embrace our mission, and they recognize it in each other. I feel privileged to work here and to serve our employees.”

The Village also outscored Fortune’s comparison to Best Companies, tallying 92% compared with the 100 Best average of 87%. An astonishing 98% of Peace Village employees agreed that management trusts them and is competent at running the business. That same percentage agreed that employees are proud to tell people they work at the Village, and they feel comfortable being themselves at work.

Uppstad said, “Some people might not like their job, but I sure like mine - and I don’t dread Mondays.”