If you want to ruin your life; work here. - Counselor Polk County, Iowa Employee Review

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.