Awful management and lack of strategy - Officer Oxfam Employee Review

1.0
Apr 19, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most coworkers are knowledgeable and helpful.

Cons

Five managers in my first year, the turnover rate is scary. It’s all the more problematic because there is no clear overarching strategy meaning that with every new manager, priorities shifted and we started plans over - wasting time and resources. It is frustrating and demotivating. There are also very few opportunities for growth. It also seems like hiring practices are based on tokenism, which is worrisome given the guiding principles of the organization. The environment is toxic and it makes it uncomfortable to share ideas and opinions. Management will not address issues and instead waste donor money hiring consultants. Management also have clear favourites, which creates weird dynamics. I know colleagues who have been bullied by management in attempts to push them out of the organization. Most people working there are miserable. I hesitated to post review because it’s very critical and I prefer to avoid negative posts online but this job took a toll on my mental health and I encourage people considering opportunities with Oxfam Canada to reconsider. I hope Oxfam Canada is able to turn things around as the programmes it implements are really important.

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.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All