I was employed at Community Options for two years. I want to be the advocate for my fellow team members and bring the negativity of this company to light. There are some things I feel need to be addressed.
The culture at this organization is toxic. From the DSP's out in the regions, to the ED’s and the National staff, this company excels at emotionally abusing and mistreating their employees. They are all disposable to Community Options. This is not right.
The CEO is one of the most emotionally abusive human beings I have ever had the displeasure of meeting and it all trickles down from there. He can consistently be heard screaming and cursing out his staff – I have personally witnessed him making director-level staff cry due to his threatening nature. He has openly shown his sexism - I have had multiple women come to me telling me that he made inappropriate comments towards them. This is sexual harassment, but the BOD is made up of his buddies, so likely nothing will be done about this behavior. All his direct reports cower under him and allow him to mold them into his little obedient robots and allow him to behave this way. If he continues to be the face of an organization that claims to care about and help individuals with disabilities, the few layoffs that recently occurred nationwide and the cash flow issues will be the least of all concerns. The CEO is no leader. He is a dictator that needs to grow up and start treating people like people, and not like trash.
Employees at the National Office are scolded for wanting to appreciate their staff through throwing a little party or decorating their desk for a birthday. This company already doesn’t appreciate their employees, one small act of kindness within the office won’t diminish the “business setting” this joke of a company is trying to formulate. Your staff is there to have your back, show some appreciation, it won't kill you.
This company has nothing going for it. Employees are paid so low, it’s a joke. There are no benefits. The one positive thing was the 403b match, but of course that was taken away as a benefit. Maybe if we had "officers" that were as concerned about the well-being of their employees as they were about the “dress code” (god forbid we see some shoulders or toes!), then maybe employees would feel more inclined to stay at this company.
This company wants to appeal SO BADLY to millennials, yet they don’t offer ANYTHING that would attract a millennial to apply. Low pay, no benefits, strict dress codes, no working from home, etc. One recruiting video with some young people doesn’t change the culture of this company. The change must happen from within. Do some research on companies like Google, Apple, or Microsoft. I know these companies are much bigger than COI, but it’s 100% possible to implement some of the strategies they use to attract and keep millennial employees.
The ED’s, management, and other staff lack so much support in the regions. We have people dedicating their entire lives to this organization just to be treated like some disposable sack of garbage. Community Options is very clearly not interested in their employees. As long as the CEO and the senior leadership teams get paid, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. If you want to save even an ounce of good employees, START TREATING THEM BETTER. It is sick how they are being treated now due to the psychotic and unrealistic expectations that the CEO has. Get over yourself and invest in your employees instead of throwing a temper tantrum and firing them. Provide training, support staff, and get to know them. These people are working for you to help further your mission, I don’t see why you wouldn’t invest in them.
The “promotions” in this company are a literal joke. They promote just for the sake of promoting, because they are unable to find someone to do the duties they ask of for the pay they offer. They promote people, set them up to fail by providing no support or training, and then fire them. “Hey, why not promote someone from within and pay them $20k less than hiring someone from outside of the company?” Does that sound familiar to anyone?
I’d like to end this review by once again stating the importance of supporting and appreciating your employees.
