Sister Cities Reviews

I cannot express my disappointment in the recent presidency enough, which ultimately led to the current state of disarray within the organization. The former president's actions and behaviors have had a detrimental impact, resulting in an alarmingly high turnover rate and an ongoing struggle to rectify the aftermath. Regrettably, this individual displayed characteristics of unresponsiveness, passive aggression, manipulation, gaslighting, racism, sexism, corruption, and excessive micromanagement. Additionally, promises made during interviews regarding hybrid work arrangements were not upheld, further contributing to employee dissatisfaction. During his time, the former president's apathetic attitude, constant vacations, and reluctance to approve crucial tasks, impeding staff members' ability to complete important projects, all contributed to an inefficient office. In addition, contract violations occurred, such as the refusal to honor vacation days stipulated in the contract and the denial of staff 403(b) retirement matching. The termination of an employee in retaliation for whistleblowing, merely a week before the president's announced "resignation" (he was fired), raises serious concerns about ethical practices. Unfortunately, the current chair of the organization appears to perpetuate a similar level of corruption as the former president, which further exacerbates the situation. Additionally, the resignation of the HR subcommittee chair around the same time as the firing of the president hints at refusal to deal with an HR scandal. While the organization's mission remains inspiring, internal corruption and the mistreatment of staff have resulted in an unacceptably high turnover rate. It is disheartening to witness an environment that fails to protect or demonstrate care for its employees. Regarding the interim president, it is important to highlight the need for improvement in the approach to managing employees. Rather than fostering a balanced environment, the interim president tends to treat employees as a combination of personal administrative assistants and an on-call IT desk. This behavior is particularly evident in the expectation of immediate assistance, even when an employee is engaged in assisting another colleague. Moreover, contacting employees after work hours, on weekends, and even during holidays on their personal cell phone numbers is a practice that needs to be reevaluated. A recent incident during which I was asked to create a graphic and a statement about Juneteenth on the holiday itself underscores the lack of consideration for employees' personal lives. If the organization genuinely values this holiday, the approach should involve appropriate planning and not impose last-minute demands on staff. Additionally, it is crucial to address the issue of work-life balance within the organization. The notion of being a "big family" or "helping each other out with everything" is often associated with a toxic work environment that blurs boundaries between personal and professional lives. In fact, a recent incident highlights the challenge new employees face when confronted with a multitude of red flags, leading one employee to resign after just three days. These indicators of a toxic work environment must not be overlooked.

- Staff are overworked and severely underpaid - Compensation is not competitive for the field and staff are not prioritized, there aren't even standard of living raises let alone promotional raises when staff take on new upper level positions - Many on the senior level need to learn how to manage staff appropriately - Board of directors are a nightmare to work with, totally unprofessional to staff - Skills acquired do not put you in a competitive place once you're on the job market again - Save for a couple exceptions, staff are generally uninterested in the mission and work - Several questionable financial choices are made - Stay away unless you're desperate for a job