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Why is the charitable sector considered to be a friendly and cosy place to work when some of the employees are as brutal as the corporate world?

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A CharityConnect User Staff PANEL

at 6 years ago

I think many people confuse compassion with empathy - empathy can be useful, but can also get in the way when what service users need is workable solutions to their problems, rather than someone just sympathising.

Bad management is bad management, wherever you work.

I've been self-employed for the vast majority of my working life - only been formally employed for the past 5/6 years or so - one of the main reasons being a long-held perception (which I freely admit could be largely prejudice) that we're unusually bad at management in this country. This is largely based on my Dad's observations, he worked all over Europe and the US so had a wide experience to base his views on...

Sadly, my recent experience has tended to bear this view out - colleagues at my level (so to speak) have, in the main, been excellent, but managers less so...

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Raymond Williamson Staff PANEL

at Etchingham Military & Aviation Preservation Group 6 years ago

Hi, On first reading I wondered if you meant "employers". Of course it could be either, or both! I have known trustees who are weak and some totally inept, and some who rarely turn up to trustee meetings. Even trustee boards who operate in secret and one or two trustees who are rude and bullying to members who want only to help. At least those members can go elsewhere to places where their assistance is welcome. If you are on the payroll that is not so easy.

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Martin Kloos Staff PANEL

Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Meade Hill Shul 6 years ago

It is really interesting how many people has stated that modern charities should be run like a business. The problem that I have experienced is that people working in the charity sector want to run it like a charity, literally. They don't understand that there has to be a business strategy working alongside of the charity goals. That can cause conflict, so it is important for those at the top of a charity to lay out clear goals and objectives on how they wish to achieve the goals of that charity.

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Paul Taylor Staff PANEL

Non-executive director at Various 6 years ago

Many of the employees come from the commercial sector now, particularly post financial crash when many lost their jobs in financial services. Trustees have adopted the mantra that their charity should be run like a business and set objectives accordingly. KPI assessment of employees just emphasises an aggressive approach by staff. It is a competitive environment with over 180,000 charities competing for money and contracts from national and local government and others outsourcing to charities.

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A CharityConnect User Staff PANEL

at 6 years ago

Certainly in my experience, I have come across people who are extremely negative and egotistical, who get away with their bad behaivour because of a level of autonomy given to small charity management that would never be tolerated in business. I have often thought that some charity workers are much more brutal than the corporate world because of their own insecurities and lack of training. Their bad behaivour is often tolerated because nice people are drawn to work with charities, thinking that the world will be nicer, when in fact it turns out to be so much more critical and actually damaging, but nice people don't make a fuss or complain

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A LC Staff PANEL

Fundraising Manager at 6 years ago

It's because everyone outside the charity sector thinks we're all left-wing sweet people that love saving the world! But as I have stated in previous threads - I have experienced discrimination, bullying, victimisation in this sector! People still want to climb the career ladder and will lie, trample on other to do so, people still have egos, and are power-hungry. They will favouritise certain people, hire friends, restructure in order to get rid of people they don't like. None of this make the charity any better, or achieve its aims more efficiently, it's really is just work politics the same as the corporate sector. Call out any bad behaviour though, little by little you can make work cultures less brutal, by being brave and making charities accountable to their ideals in terms of equality and dignity at work.

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A CharityConnect User Staff PANEL

at 6 years ago

I hope you find a charity to work for where the people are more supportive! There are many out there. Best wishes, Kate

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Andrew Herkes Staff PANEL

Director / Consultant at 6 years ago

I have no issue with charity workerrs being tough. Corporate is not always brutual but the way expressed gives a good clue to you. Workers should remember they are not there to be nice but achieve the original aims admitedly with a degree of compassion = same as in corporate world.

Frankly thre should be no difference except the beneficary or "customer"

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Emma Patmore Staff PANEL

Associate Consultant Trustee Recruitment & Development at Bruce Tait Associates 6 years ago

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Hello Enquirer,

Mark is right, the 'persona' of the sector gives the impression that everyone within it is touchy-feely, so to speak, but charities are (should be) run in the same way as commercial organisations, so people who are good managers and leaders, have an eye on the finances, know how to 'market' their services in the best way, etc. This is one reason why the company I used to work for was established: charity leaders told us that they had no trouble finding people who were aligned to their cause, but they needed people who offered hard-and-fast skills and experience so that the right policies and procedures were put in place.

'Brutal' is a strong adjective to use, so I'm so if your personal experiences have been possibly disheartening for you. But in this day and age of severely reduced funding, pressures on the public/supporter purse, etc. means that organisations have to work harder and charity boards are/should be looking even more closely to ensure that their strategies are being fully implemented, in order to achieve the best results for the organisation and crucially, its beneficiairies.This may mean that members of the executive are feeling even more under pressure, and that in turn may mean that this has an effect on how those people interact with others. But again, like with corporate companies there should be an effective, and supportive internal policy of maintaining staff well-being and commitment to the cause.

Best of luck in resolving things: again, like with corporates, all organisations should have a process in place for you to address your concerns without fear of recrimination. If there's one particular individual, try approaching them to address your concerns and that you're keen to resolve matters. If that doesn't work, escalate it.

Kind regards,

Emma

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Mark Cassidy Staff PANEL

Individual Giving Fundraiser at Rosemere Cancer Foundation 6 years ago

I think the sector is considered friendly and cosy due to the nature of what we do on the front line - we stand up for the animals, people, the climate and anything else in need. Which (generally) means an assumption that the people who do that work are good people, so the organisation must be similar

People are people though and there will always be a range of the personalities of people within the sector.

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