Great Organization - Intern Al Otro Lado Employee Review

Super passionate people who appreciate your effort.

It's a small org, so don't expect too many institutional processes and structures.

Passionate, mission-driven coworkers who care deeply about immigrant justice.

Cons: Mishandled sexual assault and harassment reports. Allegations were dismissed or poorly addressed, with no trauma-informed or survivor-centered processes in place. Retaliation against whistleblowers, survivors, and union supporters. Staff who raised concerns were sidelined, intimidated, or pushed out. Toxic leadership culture. Internal transparency is lacking. Critical feedback is punished instead of welcomed. Leadership protects its image over worker safety. Staggering pay inequity. The Executive Director earns $175,000/year and another Managing Director earns $140,000/year—both live in Mexico, while frontline staff in Tijuana doing the most emotionally and physically demanding work are paid just $24,000/year. When this was brought up, leadership claimed it was “fair for Tijuana wages”—even though they themselves live in Tijuana while collecting U.S. executive salaries, over $100,000 more than staff in the same region. Union-busting practices. Management avoided bargaining in good faith, targeted outspoken staff for layoffs, and fostered fear and instability rather than collaboration. Burnout and lack of support. Little to no mental health resources, high turnover, and a pattern of overworking and underpaying staff across both sides of the border.