LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Retreat Behavioral Health, a multi-state company with locations in Ephrata and Akron in Lancaster County, is closing.
That’s according to internal emails obtained by FOX43, which were sent by Scott Korogodsky, the Chief Administrative Officer of Retreat Behavioral Health.
One employee, who spoke with FOX43 on the condition of anonymity, says they were informed earlier this week, after the sudden and unexpected death of the company’s CEO, Peter Schorr, who passed away June 21.
“Throughout the weekend, the next day, other facilities were [here] taking the patients out so I kind of knew it was over then," the employee said.
Along with its Lancaster County facilities, Retreat runs drug, alcohol and mental health treatment centers in Florida and Connecticut.
According to other media reports, those facilities have also closed.
FOX43 was told the company paid workers late earlier this month and missed the most recent pay period altogether.
According to internal emails, the company's leadership acknowledged the previous delays in payment and blamed issues with its payroll processing system.
In a June 21 email announcing Schorr's death to employees, leadership stated:
"We understand there is the matter of payroll we need to address and we are absolutely committed to rectifying this as soon as possible."
Employees say they’ve been coming to work with no knowledge of when their next check will come.
“We do it because we enjoy helping other people," one employee said.
While the employee who spoke with FOX43 said he doesn’t do this work for the paycheck, he tells us that going weeks without one has been a struggle.
“A lot of us live paycheck to paycheck," he explained. "My credit card payments are late so my credit is taking a hit. Basically trying to find side jobs to come up with cash real quick.”
FOX43 reached out to the executive director of the Lancaster County locations, asking for more details about the closure and delays in paying employees. We did not receive a response as of Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re not allowed to file for unemployment, basically it’s being terminated or resigning," the employee told FOX43.
As of Wednesday, three patients remained at the Ephrata inpatient location, which had room to house over 100.
They’re expected to be all discharged and transferred to other facilities, and the Ephrata and Akron locations closed, by the end of the week.
An internal email sent by Korogodsky said the company is "hopeful for new opportunities to reopen the doors" but the employee who spoke with FOX43 said he doesn't see that happening any time soon.
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