Our culture is a direct reflection of our core values in the Always Here Promise: To continuously improve care by listening with empathy, caring with compassion and communicating with respect and clarity, creating a safe and healing experience for our patients, their families and all Willis Knighton employees. This culture is promoted and expected to be felt at any Willis Knighton campus or facility.
Willis Knighton Health is an equal opportunity employer and therefore recruits and welcomes employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other protected status where otherwise qualified. WK proudly supports and promotes those who have served in our U.S. military. We continue to partner with the Louisiana Workforce Commission to offer opportunities to all who seek employment. As the largest community health system, you will find Willis Knighton participates in all local career fairs to attract talent from right here in Shreveport-Bossier and the surrounding area. Each year, our WK Marketing Department makes a point to celebrate our veterans and our diversity with vibrant display on our workplace intranet homepage for all employees to share.
Willis Knighton offers a benefits package that is unique to WK employees and their families. WK is one of the few employers in the nation to offer a vested retirement plan after just five years of employment. Completely free to its nearly 8,000 employees, WK offers STD and AD&D insurance at no cost as well. Due to the size of the organization, Willis Knighton is fortunate to offer its very own affordable medical insurance plan called Health Plus to cover employees and their families, costing them only a copay at the time of services rendered. This is one the most attractive benefits to working families in the Shreveport/Bossier area. In addition, Willis Knighton houses its own training facility, the James K. Elrod Innovation Center, where licensed professionals can obtain certifications (such as CPR/ACLS, Stroke, CPI, NRP, TNCC) at little to no cost to the employee. In addition, WK reimburses 100% of any national certification obtained. WK offers cafeteria, giftshop and fitness center discounts to ALL employees. Another favorite for Willis Knighton employees is the annual Employee Appreciation Day at the Louisiana State Fair where all WK employees and their dependents can enjoy a day at the fair FOR FREE.
As one of the largest employers in Northwest Louisiana, we are built on the quality service that our employees provide. It is imperative that we recognize outstanding team members who diligently and continually work with excellence. One program that is unique to Willis Knighton is our Gold Star Program, where patients, families and colleagues can nominate outstanding employees who are observed giving gold star service. These nominees are proudly boasted on our outdoor community billboards throughout the city. Annually, there is a banquet held for those who receive the most gold star nominations in that calendar year. In addition, our WK family, nearly 8,000 members strong, is drawn together by WK Connect. On this homepage, all Willis Knighton employees can find the latest news, learn of system recognitions and upcoming dates to remember, engage in system-wide games and holiday events, as well as celebrate work anniversaries and retirements. Of course, each department, unit, campus or clinic is encouraged to celebrate their individual team as they practice quality healthcare together.
Being a locally owned, locally operated non-profit organization, Willis Knighton chooses to give back to the community it serves. WK chooses to donate 10% of all profits back into local organizations and activities. You will rarely attend an event in the Shreveport-Bossier area where Willis Knighton has not contributed or supported through participation. WK employees can be found volunteering throughout the year, hosting activities at local festivals such as the Red River Revel, educating the public in community health fairs, providing services to our underserved populations, and raising funds for local charities. This year, Willis Knighton is proud to again be the top sponsor for the annual NWLA American Heart Association Heart Walk. For this event, employees are encouraged to register, walk, lead teams, bid on auction items and raise funds for the cause, and they DO! Another favorite community service project is the biannual Paint Your Heart Out. Teams of WK employees and their families aesthetically update local homes. WK employees work alongside city officials and volunteers from various organizations.
Willis Knighton promotes health and wellness in several ways. On each corner of Shreveport-Bossier, WK fitness centers offer a fully equipped gym with knowledgeable trainers and a variety of fitness classes from which to choose. WK offers discounted membership fees to all WK employees. In addition, employees are offered wellness incentives annually. As employees work toward their personal health and fitness goals, they can earn points to redeem for rewards through the Healthy Merits program. Willis Knighton Work Kare offers a variety of wellness programs to outside employers all over the area. WK offers free flu vaccinations, health risk assessments and the Employee Assistance Program to all of their employees free of charge.
Willis Knighton Health has been recognized as part of Forbes’ annual list of America’s Best-in-State Employers in 2021, ranking No.12 among Louisiana employers and the ONLY NWLA health system in the Top 10.
Willis Knighton is THE locally-owned, locally-operated hospital that serves this community and supports LOCAL. Our commitment is local, focusing people in the local communities where our hospitals and clinics are located. Our local employees support local projects and serve on local boards that enrich our community. Paychecks to our 7,800 local employees fuel the local economy. Profits remain local, where they are reinvested in better local healthcare and provide support for local nonprofits. Our local board of trustees, executives and department directors know our community and how to respond to local needs. When you choose Willis Knighton, you are choosing to support the health and well-being of local patients and the local community.
What the employees have to say:
“The people makes Willis Knighton great. For all of the shiny buildings and equipment that Willis Knighton has – and don’t get me wrong, those things are great and they often helps us treat patients better. But what makes Willis Knighton different, is what makes any great enterprise different, and that is the people that work there. In practice, I have come to Willis Knighton to operate. I have been a patient at Willis Knighton. My wife had our son at Willis Kington. And now I have gone through the process of becoming a Willis Knighton network physician. The one constant throughout all of those experiences has been that the people are just outstanding and the commitment to do things the right way, to the highest standard is always there.” – Dr. David S. Drummond, DPM.
“I love working at Willis Knighton because of the fact that the day that I started here, everyone has been friendly. Anything I have ever needed or wanted, Willis Knighton has been able to help me with it. I have enjoyed working with every person here within the system. We learn from each other and we grow with each other. I have always felt like I have a place here.” – Doyle Moody, Maintenance
“Willis Knighton has been wonderful to me in allowing me to advance in my career. They assisted me with tuition reimbursement for my MBA, allowed me to prepare to become a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facility surveyor, which I have been for 9 years, and they were also able to help me get LEAN SIX SIGMA trained so that I would be better prepared for my current position. Willis Knighton doesn’t just see you as a person coming in. They see you as an asset and part of team. And that is what you want, to be part of a team.” – Jenna Strecker, Performance Improvement Project Manager
“I have been a nurse for 14 years. I have worked all over the country and at some of the top hospitals in Manhattan. When it was time to come home, Willis Knighton was a no-brainer and it has proven right. Willis Knighton feels like home. As soon as I stepped on to the unit, there is always a helping hand ready. The team work is amazing. Supplies are always at our fingertips. Our outcomes are phenomenal. It really empowers you as a nurse if you can see it. Its tangible.” – Tony LaSuzzo, CCRN