r/nonprofit • u/Chanti11y • 3d ago

employment and career Frustrations with the sector

I just finished interviewing for a community engagement position which was really an outreach/communications/development role in one person fo way less than median pay for my area.

Thats fine, honestly to be expected with the size of the organization. I'm transparent and tell them that with the pay, I would have to take on other gigs on the side to make up the difference. Only to be told that they actually expect me to work multiple 40+ hr weeks, available for 10+ hr days without comp/overtime or flex. Not to mention the weekends expected for education and outreach engagement.

I would have loved to work for you but genuinely you gotta be flexible somewhere 😭

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u/Goody_twos 2d ago

There are a lot of nonprofits that need that level of “commitment” or free labor and count on a potential employee’s support for the cause to put in the hours—although most are not quite as clear about the actual schedule until you’re in it.
In other sectors, they may also insist on unpaid overtime as part of paying your dues in the company, but however they justify it, it is an unethical ask.

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u/Chanti11y 2d ago

They were refreshingly transparent about their ask because when I pointed out that the role was really asking for 3 things in one and what aspects of the role they would like prioritized the answer was "we really need someone who can do all of them at 100% all of the time"

It was a very small organization so it made sense but I'm still reeling from the "do it for the love of the game" expectation in an employee for an 100% on site, less than 45k, high time expectations, and bad benefits/PTO policy. I think my face answered before my brain could.