aspirations for good don't always pan out - Senior Policy Analyst HomeBase Center for Common Concerns Employee Review

You won't find more dedicated, resourceful, positive colleagues anywhere. Homebasers are attuned to the needs of their clients and their teammates -- eager to answer questions, strategically overcome challenges, and otherwise support them however they can. Staff are witty, thoughtful, and committed to building meaningful relationships in and out of the organization to uplift agencies and communities -- truly a pleasure and inspiration to work with. Management supports staff in professional development, balancing the provision of autonomy and oversight. Management provides frequent positive and constructive feedback and actively seeks the same in return. Opportunities to develop facilitation, project management, writing, statutory and regulatory analysis, public speaking, and data analysis skills abound. Excellent vacation and flexible work from home policies.

Workflow is fast-paced and deadline-driven -- staff must be effective in time management and assertive in setting boundaries to achieve work/life balance. Parental leave policy is not particularly generous.

The amount of time, treasure, and talent that has been devoted to workplace culture, employee satisfaction, mission impact, and financial sustainability in the last two years is remarkable. I am especially impressed by the improvements in benefits--as well as the investment in creating an equitable and transparent career advancement ladder. Accompanying these two foci with a generous, humane codification of HR policies has created a workplace where it's obvious that employees are valued. The mission is bold-- build community capacity to end homelessness and reduce poverty; foster thriving, inclusive communities. The staff is committed. Many are recognized as leaders in their field. The environment is fast-paced but supportive. Another stand out: The Equity Steering Committee is not just a piece of DEIB window-dressing. It has real leadership impact. For me, Homebase is an employer of choice.

Some systems are creaky and need to be re-imagined. Management is addresssing that issue, but it's a bit like flying the plane while building it. That can be stressful. There are no easy fixes. What is understood by long-timers is not always clear to new people, although real and valuable work has been done re: on-boarding. A buddy system might help to address the things that fall between the cracks. As with all nonprofits, compensation is constrained by available resources. There's more to do than time to do it in. Many days, it feels like we're dancing as fast as we can, but getting nowhere fast.