Worst Experience - Anonymous employee OMSI Employee Review

1.0
13 Sept 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People in Portland are very impressed you work here. Free membership. Discounted food as worker. Beautiful view of river and downtown. Benefits are actually pretty decent - but you’ll need them cuz you’ll work yourself to death.

Cons

This has been the absolute worst work experience I’ve ever had. I have worked for non-profits all my life, other non profits with which I had very positive experiences with and never have I dealt with such a shady, unlawful, and unprofessional workplace in my life. I deeply regret working here. Machiavellian plots are launched against other co-workers without another blinking an eye. Lying to vendors and visitors is highly encouraged just to save a buck or two. You are expected to work constantly - including straight through lunch. Just eat at your desk! Pretends to be all-inclusive, but the good ol’ boy system of hiring your friends son or whatever is alive and well here. They let in some people of color to give the illusion they care, but they really don’t. They also bait and switch, telling some people they have a certain job, then say the job description was typed up wrong, thus making it too late for you to jump ship because you’re already on board. Telling HR anything is wrong is pointless because they care about protecting OMSI, not you, this just adding another bullet in the chamber against yourself. Run as far away as you can. It’ll be the best decision you’ve ever made. I wish someone would have warned me.

Explore other reviews about OMSI

5.0
3 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Awesome place to work and community

Cons

Not much room for upward growth

2.0
5 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

When management is competent, the experience is great. There's tons of really cool teaching materials (bones, minerals, taxidermy, etc.) donated over the decades. There used to be a really lovely culture of inclusion, history, and community out there. Summer is brutally hot but can also be really fun.

Cons

Management plays favorites, violates safety codes, undermines staff, pits people against each other, and can't open a word document to save their lives. Fire and safety protocol are not clear and misunderstood by the person in charge.

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