Worth the experience, but proceed with caution - Communications Oxfam Employee Review

2.0
Aug 30, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* Amazing learning opportunity * Interesting and committed humanitarian and program team * Some potential for industrious, independent workers * Employees who are willing and able to mentor and support do so with tremendous results * Some opportunity for travel

Cons

* Unionized environment has created a culture of complacency, in which some employees feel they're untouchable and some managers fear union reprisal. * Years of poor management and leadership have created a crisis of cohesion -- it's very difficult to get anything done that requires the input of more than one or two people. Very few people work together and/or trust one another. A few employees are openly hostile towards others. * Senior management is so weak that many employees who require additional support/instruction/management in order to complete tasks on time and as required get zero feedback and face no repercussions for shoddy, incomplete work. As a consequence, morale is the pits. * Due to funding instability and shortfalls, opportunities for advancement and career growth are limited * Mentorship opportunities are few and far between. Many employees are so overworked, they can barely think about supporting new hires and/or subordinates.

Explore other reviews about Oxfam

5.0
Feb 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and culture in the space.

Cons

Not as many people in the office.

2.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

working with people who really care about the work and the mission; mostly remote work

Cons

Oxfam America's senior leadership team has presided over three consecutive years of layoffs with little evidence of accountability or learning at the executive level. Despite repeated rhetoric about fairness and equity, leadership decisions consistently undermine those stated values. New initiatives are rolled out frequently, only to be quietly dropped, creating instability, confusion, and deep skepticism among staff. Directors are routinely excluded from key strategic discussions, yet are expected to deliver decisions to their teams with no meaningful context, rationale, or ability to answer questions. The CEO appears insulated from the day to day realities of the organization, reinforcing a growing disconnect between leadership and staff. As a result, employees are chronically overworked, morale continues to erode, and trust in senior leadership has been significantly damaged by unmet commitments and constantly shifting priorities.

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