Boys & Girls Clubs Reviews

Pros

As a part time employee, as many other positions, it's important to realize that you're working a 20 hr week for a non-profit company and your pay isn't going to be amazing. What you can receive with this job that you will not with some other par time jobs is the satisfaction and reward of providing a safe place for children to go after school and having the chance to work with them and develop them as responsible and caring citizens. The structure of these programs in this area are developing and becoming great! It's just important that everyone who works there is ON BOARD and not just there to collect a paycheck or get their name out there.

Cons

Desperately need their own building and an efficient security staff. Should really be more flexible in cutting dead weight instead of beating around the bush. Should make more effort to keep good staff working happily regardless of monetary needs (to a reasonable extent).

Advice to Senior Management

Should institute a probationary period for new employees so after seeing the work ethic and actions of some employees there is no problem sending them out the same door they came in. Should also come up with a set of interview questions that pertain to the job and the environment new employees might enter.

Pros

Nice premise, poor management. There is hope with the wonderful new management in place. Too late for me

Cons

unchecked destructive bias management style

Advice to Senior Management

Complete changeover has already happened, good luck!

Pros

They are very dedicated to their cause and take care of their employees. Being able to administering youth development programs is a great way to make a difference in club members' lives.

Cons

Part-time work is generally only available, the pay is low, and there are no benefits but these are the typical downsides for working for a non-profit.

Advice to Senior Management

Have better organization of when programs are scheduled and allow for more time to administer and prepare for them to make sure they are as effective as possible.

Pros

The kids, the coworkers there are good. People are really nice

Cons

Low pay
Hours get cut all the time
Inconsistent communication
Disorganized
Too much structure and making kids do things they don't want to do while simultaneously saying that we help them make choices!
Lack of supplies

Advice to Senior Management

You need to somehow give your staff the time and money to do what they've been hired to do. And ditch your condescension and take some "how to manage employees" classes. Cause this isn't it/.

Pros

If you like to work with kids than this is a place for you. Its part time so you can still go to school or have another job. You feel like you make a difference in the kids lives.

Cons

The hours make it hard to plan a school schedule around it. They are not that flexible in terms of taking time off for unexpected things.

Advice to Senior Management

As of yet there is not much advancement to full time positions. Also, the supervisor should be givin more responsiblity on sites.

Pros

The Youth & Travel Opportunities! The kids are definitely the best part!

Cons

The club is run like a Dictatorship... Not a democracy!

Advice to Senior Management

Ujima... Collective Work & Resposibility!

Pros

Valuable services to needy communities
Some staff are unbelievably committed and dedicated
Kids need the help desperately
A few great people work there

Cons

Favoritism and unfairness in assessing staff - inconsistent rewarding of favorites
Part time employees can work there for many years and never receive benefits or full time jobs
No career ladder as top management waits to retire
Fee based revenue charges poor families - no real commitment to the poor
Silo mentality - no real sharing of information
Top down management practices don't take staff into consideration

Advice to Senior Management

Stop wasting money by hiding lackluster performers
Get out of the office and listen to the staff at the Clubs
Become aware of how the management practices undermine staff morale

Pros

All the benefits of building great relationships with kids and parents, having fun and being able to play as part of your job, and feeling like a part of your community.

Cons

- The hourly pay is above-average for a summer job, but much below-average for a career position.
- Decisions sometimes appear to be done for political reasons.
- Some of the managers have a very traditional style and do not necessarily have educational qualifications or formal training in their field.
- Some of the managers have been known to demonstrate poor people skills and some insensitivity to their staff members.
- Management uses some very traditional staff disciplinary policies.
- There are some operational inefficiencies which can be frustrating or time consuming.
- There is not a lot of transparency in the budgeting or planning process.

Advice to Senior Management

The organization attracts some great employees and excellent site-level managers because there are truly some excellent programs offered and the reputation in the community is very good. The community stands behind this organization very well because of the contributions they make to the county and its young people.

However, the best managers and staff are not always supported and developed, and do not always stay. Site-level managers do have some flexibility to implement seasonal programming, but do not have a great amount of input in the overall decision-making or budgeting process. Professional development opportunities are sporadic and do not always address the real and practical developmental needs of the individual employee or manager.

Here is some advice for someone looking to begin work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Porter County. This is a great place to have a first job, or to enjoy one or two summers working with community youth. You will truly love that part of the work. It is a safe place to work and a very fun one when you get to be involved with the kids and meet the families of the community. It is also an excellent place to volunteer.

But, this organization for the most part operates very traditionally, so, that can be frustrating if you're looking to share your perspective, or drive improvement and innovation. There are very few formal opportunities to be part of committees, attend board meetings, share information, or make requests for professional development. If you're looking at this organization as a career possibility, that is something to know in advance.

Pros

It helps the heart. You will feel good and sleep well at the end of the day. Community involvement is key to social improvement.

Cons

Salary is less than desirable.

Advice to Senior Management

Value current employees....they are not there because they are being paid well but because they care about the kids.

Pros

Important work that affects a wide community, very needed for low income families and for kids who are at risk. In certain Clubs there is a great effort to work together for the benefit of the kids, but in others, there is partisan quibbling across the board.

Cons

Low pay, spotty management practices, hard work, long hours. Uneven evaluation practices, many of the long term employees are stuck without a career laddder, leading to a feeling of hopelessness that they will ever be promoted. Financial management does not seem to be proactive.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't allow turf wars between senior execs to play out at the Club level. Too many short sighted management decisions have a long term impact on the quality of life for staff and kids. Growth isn't always the ony strategy. Clubs understaffed creates huge pressure on part time employees, who also receive no benefits or consideration of their long term tenure. This becomes exploitative and creates internal rivalry between full time and part time workers.