Quite a few, so read on. Most importantly, low pay. Considering that 12.29% of your paycheck is immediately taken for ASRS (mandatory retirement plan), the already below market range pay becomes dangerously low. There is a LOT of turnover. Off the top of my head I can list 25 people I used to work with that left within the past year. Friends hire and promote friends to higher0level positions. I witnessed in the past 6 months two NEW positions created for people who are "connected." There is a LOT of favoritism. WHO you know gets you promoted and compensated well - rather than your degree, competency, years of experience or overall contributions. Some managers take advantage of high performers and keep them in their role by blocking transfers. There is no real financial or advancement incentive to give 100% here. The overall environment is VERY political. They don't have enough funding to give underpaid employees a raise to pace inflation or add staff to balance workload but suddenly they can create new positions for politically connected people. Praise and recognition are nonexistent. For example a leader nominated their boss for an award but never discussed a nomination for the actual team of people doing the day-to-day work. As a manager and leader, your job is to remove barriers and make decisions to make things better for those who you support - your workers! The role of leaders is to support, inspire and cultivate the workforce and this culture does not see it that way. When I started, I received ZERO training from my department and this has been the theme for everyone who started after me. There is a lack of strategy beyond satisfying the most pressing needs of the day. There seems to be no baseline skillsets for managers. The recent shift in executive management solidified a network of friends/allies into executive roles and I have seen internal rivals reassigned, overburdened and pushed out. Everyday workers really do care and want to make the community better so for the most part, coworkers are decent. If you need to tread water for a bit and don't expect to get decent pay or advance, this could be the place you go while you prepare your next move. If you have another offer, take it. I would not recommend this workplace to a family member or friend.
