I began in 2019 under very poor leadership. The regional manager was known to be difficult to work with, play favorites, and was critical of the work ethic of people of color in particular. This individual would make said employees so uncomfortable they would quit, or get so upset they would verbalize this to said regional manager who would then make a point to write them up as often as possible, and then fire them. This regional manager also made a point to make it very clear that the "luxury", and very large building I was assigned to work at was being run by a General Manager they planned to fire since he was clearly unequipped for the job. Noting Equity was aware he was not fit for the role, and ultimately firing him in the previously stated process above. During the COVID19 pandemic, leasing managers and other onsite staff were advised to continue business as usual, without providing PPE. Additionally, we had no running water in the only employee bathroom, we additionally did not have soap for so long myself and others would bring our own soap from home. All while being paid $22 per hour pre tax. The working conditions were truly atrocious. Once health concerns were expressed, this regional manager quite literally put myself and other individuals on a watch list for expressing our concerns for our lives. I personally got COVID19 three times during my 1.5 years working there. This regional manager told myself and others we were being lazy by not wanting to do one on one tours in broken elevators with prospective renters, without PPE, and without the ability to wash our hands. This impacted my mental and physical health. If you happen upon any of their buildings yelp or google reviews; you'll note that 90% of them are very negative, expressing hateful feedback to onsite employees. Unfortunately what the tenants do not know or fail to realize is the onsite employees have NO control to improve their experience, and instead act as punching bags for residents to express their frustrations as corporate leadership refuses to take feedback onboard. Furthermore if an employee does raise a concern, they should already be prepared to find another job as they will be fired. Tenants complain onsite employees do not care, however onsite employees have no input over the building budget. Onsite employees do not have control over the 40% rent increases (I have seen up to a 60% increase) they are forced to present to tenants. Tenants do not understand the reason there is such high turnover, dirty common spaces, no lifeguards for pools, 3 out of 4 elevators down daily, unkept gym equipment, frequent building floods, no lighting in the hallways or the emergency stairwells, is the result of Equity and the corporate "leadership" that quite literally disregards the health, and lives of their employees as well as their tenants. Onsite employees are cursed out, belittled, threatened, and pushed to their breaking points everyday, because those in the leadership positions to make REAL change refuse to do so. Myself and another female employee were sexually harassed by another onsite employee who arrived to work drunk. He touched us against our will, and we had to lock ourselves in the bathroom as we waited for help. Please note we had to follow up with the regional manager TWICE for a report to be filed. The report did nothing, and no one followed up with either of us, or even asked if we were okay. I should also mention when I gave my 10 business day notice I would be leaving the organization, the regional manager mentioned in this post asked me several times where I would be working at, and that anywhere I would go would be the same. Upon refusing to indulge her request, said regional manager advised if I showed up late, or asked to use one of my many remaining sick days they would ensure my future employers were made aware of this, they would not provide a reference for me, and to top it off specifically said "you will NOT be leaving Equity on good terms, and we will ensure your future employers know".
