Once-great organization has lost its way - Anonymous employee Year Up United Employee Review

Focus has shifted from serving students to growing the organization. Leadership is obsessed with "scaling" as though this is a for-profit startup rather than a nonprofit. As a result, the things that made this program great are being eliminated one by one in favor of making this program big. Huge staff turnover in the last year indicates trouble: staff are voting with their feet. Most dysfunctional politics of any workplace I've ever been in. Especially hard to navigate as the organization proclaims itself to be an "open, feedback-based culture." Do not fall for this. Here, as in many organizations, toadying is job one: find the power players and kiss up relentlessly if you want to succeed. Dissent is punished and dedication to students counts for nothing in your performance reviews or career prospects.