A Great Mission Cannot Make Up for a Toxic Culture, The Mission and People Deserve Better - Engagement Specialist buildOn Employee Review

I joined because I believed deeply in the mission, and I continue to admire the dedication and compassion of many of the employees. Unfortunately, my experience with the internal culture did not reflect the values the organization promotes externally. In my experience, the workplace culture became increasingly unhealthy over time. Many employees appeared hesitant to provide candid feedback to senior leadership because there was a widespread perception that speaking up could result in being excluded from decisions, labeled as "not a team player," or seeing professional opportunities diminish. Whether intentional or not, this created an environment where psychological safety felt lacking. I also experienced and observed what I perceived to be inconsistent accountability and favoritism. Workloads, recognition, advancement opportunities, and flexibility did not always seem to be distributed equitably. Many hardworking employees carried significant responsibilities while others appeared to receive greater rewards or lighter workloads. The leadership team often seemed disconnected from the day-to-day experiences of staff. Although coworkers were incredibly supportive of one another and often stepped in to help each other navigate difficult situations, it frequently felt as though employees relied on one another because they did not feel similarly supported by leadership. Another concern was compensation and resource allocation. Executive compensation appeared significantly higher than employee compensation, while many entry-level and frontline positions seemed to be compensated below what I would expect for the responsibilities required. At the same time, salary growth for many employees felt modest compared with the recognition and rewards available to senior leadership. The organization publicly promotes values such as equity, inclusion, collaboration, constructive leadership, and respect. In my experience, those principles were not always reflected consistently in internal management practices. I often felt there was a disconnect between the organization's public messaging and the day-to-day employee experience. Despite the challenges, I remain grateful for the talented, caring colleagues I worked alongside. They are passionate people who genuinely believe in the mission and deserve a workplace culture that reflects the same values they bring to their work every day. Workplace culture that I found unhealthy and lacking psychological safety. Perceived favoritism and inconsistent accountability. Employees may hesitate to provide honest feedback. Compensation for many staff did not feel aligned with responsibilities. Greater transparency, consistency, and employee trust are needed.