How is diversity at Oregon Department of Human Services?

Pros

Decent benefits and pay is ok although the pay scale starts too low

Cons

Toxic, poisonous work environments where they are condescending constantly. They say diversity and inclusion are so important yet they do not act accordingly

Advice to Management

Managers need to learn they are no better than anyone else

Pros

Get to meet people, travel around, decent-ish pay, government benefits, decent-ish training, maybe, rarely even help people, was sometimes interesting

Cons

No work life balance, hostile clients, hostile, terrible, non-supportive management, racist coworkers, often seems like not really helping but just punitive, penalizing poor people, and especially, people of color.

Pros

Ongoing trainings for staff members. Mental health trainings and support. If you get a good manager, it's a really good job. Medical benefits are really good. Telework option is as fantastic as it is necessary. Vacation/Comp time is good. Strong Union.

Cons

Monthly pay does not a basic living wage even after 4.5 years with the state. COL raises are too small and too infrequent to keep up with the actual rising costs of living. Workload is heavy with no relief in sight. Exposed to daily vicarious trauma from hungry people to severe cases of domestic violence and various kinds of neglect and abuse. Manager may or may not be supportive; there seems to be no minimum standard for management behaviors. A lot of "talk" about RiSE Equity and NorthStar and Diversity, but Administrative management in our District has a long way to go to actually put their money where their mouth is; there is a serious disconnect there. A lot of the Foundations trainings were an absolute waste of time.

Advice to Management

Listen to your staff, when they tell you they are overwhelmed, believe them and work to provide REAL answers, not just lip service acknowledgement as you watch them slowly burn out.