Be aware of what you are getting into - Anonymous employee Turtle Island Restoration Network Employee Review

I really enjoyed working at Turtle Island Restoration Network! I liked being able to work for an organization whose values I share, which is doing so many good things for the environment and wildlife both locally and internationally. The boss and management was very supportive, flexible, and open to new ideas. The office headquarters in Olema, CA have a nice atmosphere located in a serene nature area with an on-site native plant nursery. I liked the dynamic work environment where you got to engage with members of the public, such as with visits from weekly volunteers to the on-site native plant nursery and school groups. I was also able to learn a lot about how a non-profit functions by being able to interact and collaborate with people in different roles than my own. In addition, it was nice to have the opportunity to do things outside ones' own role from time to time, such as being able to visit restoration field sites and help out with native plantings. Overall I really liked working at the TIRN and felt I had the space to grow and expand in my role. (The healthcare, dental, benefits package was also a plus!)

The office headquarters in Olema, CA are located in a semi-rural area, so if you want to be close to a big city or don't want to have much of a commute, then maybe this isn't the spot for you. Though I personally found the drive out West to be relaxing and beautiful.

The team: I met some of the most dedicated and passionate ocean warriors that are making a difference for marine wildlife.

Since I began working at Turtle Island Restoration Network in September 2017, I experienced the following unacceptable treatment by the founder and ED: -Being ignored -Being walked away from in the middle of a conversation -Yelled at, privately and in front of others -Unprofessional emails and meetings -Absence of support -Favoritism -Oscillating between micromanagement and lack of management as he sees fit -Lack of professional courtesy -Application of policies that only applied to me and no one else -Livelihood and job security threatened on multiple occasions as a scare tactic On multiple times, myself and other colleagues were told that if we were unhappy with how things were run, that we should leave. There is a major lack of empathy and understanding. Four staff members quit during my nine months at the organization. Working at Turtle Island Restoration Network caused me personal and financial strife. Many days, I did not want to come into the office for fear of being bullied, given the silent treatment, and/or glared at. I have been yelled at within earshot of staff and interns. I have been bullied and talked down to in front of staff. Additionally, I have been refused compensation for personal property which broke filming official videos for campaigns. I used my personal camera because I was told we had no budget for video equipment. If I wanted to do my job correctly, I had to use my own equipment. I was left with no choice. If you are a women, don't expect to get raises. One of my female colleagues didn't get a single raise in 10 years. A male colleague got a raise in two years. There are plenty of ocean and environmental organizations out there that will treat you with respect and pay you a livable salary. For the sake of your own emotional and mental wellbeing, I do not recommend working at Turtle Island Restoration Network. There is no job security, as the ED has told staff that he doesn't really care what happens to the organization when he's gone (he's in his 60s). Unfortunately, I could continue the list of cons.