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Polk County, Iowa

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Nepotism Taken to a New Level - Anonymous employee Polk County, Iowa Employee Review

1.0
10 June 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The salaries & benefits are way above market average (which should be maddening to tax payers).

Cons

I've worked for other government agencies before but never experienced nepotism to this degree. As far as I can tell very few employees are actually qualified for their jobs - most notably department heads and other high level managers. It's all about who you know unfortunately. As a result these leaders are able to get away with murder, so to speak, and display flagrant favoritism to their friends and family. Many leaders are unprofessional, micro-managing, territorial and lazy. Employees spend their day worrying more about inter-office politics than doing actual work. I am ambitious, creative and hard-working but I am told to "stay in my lane" more often than not. This environment is not for anyone looking to actually be fulfilled by their work.

Explore other reviews about Polk County, Iowa

5.0
12 Jan 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, management, valued/respected, understanding, benefits

Cons

Not all departments have the same reputation

1.0
1 Sept 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

High rate of PTO and time off.

Cons

I spent 20 years working for Polk County Government Children and Families Youth Services. During that time, I witnessed deaths being covered up by officials, management engaging in illegal activities, embezzlement, fraud, manipulation of federal funding statistics, and pervasive racism. The workplace culture was toxic, with employees often undermining one another rather than advancing through merit. Nepotism and favoritism were the norm. Most employees were family members or friends of those already in the system. Career advancement was virtually impossible without those connections, leaving the majority of staff stagnant.

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