The last thing someone wants to worry about after working in an organization for 20 years is showing up one day and being told they’ve been sacked with no warning, no notice, and no explanation. But this is common practice at CIMMYT. Staff are regularly expected to work 60-70 hours a week, are poorly compensated, and are terminated without notice or explanation. Bully mentality is common especially among senior management and filters down throughout the organization.
Under-performance and gross non-performance of responsibilities are consistently ignored for preferred employees. Nepotism and favouritism are rampant throughout the organization. Save your talent, energy, and hard work for another organization that has a modicum of consideration for its employees.
Staff are expected to dedicate their entire life to the organization while anyone can be let go at any time regardless of their contract. Staff who decide not to work weekends or evenings will not last long. Upper managers don't have a personal life and expect staff to be virtually on call. Work/life balance is poor. If you don't comply, you won't have a job.
Horrible management and treatment of staff have been well documented and raised as a concern by oversight bodies and independent councils. However, there are no real mechanisms to hold management accountable. Minorities, women, and certain nationalities are targeted and treated especially unfairly. With no real mechanisms in place to rectify poor treatment of staff, unethical practices go unchecked and are common.