Housing Support Worker in Ottawa, ON Former Employee 2018
Wabano was a very hard place to work...There was a lot of pressure put on new workers to perform right away with little to no training provided. Workers were overworked, underpaid and have to put up with a lot of mistreatment from other coworkers. For a centre that really values its holistic/ Indigenous practices, values and morals it did not represent this at all. Wabano is so Colonized, it runs from a top-down perspective with little to no room for improvement or moving forward into higher paying jobs.
Management at all levels in Wabano is in complete disarray and disfunction. Your mental health will be in complete shambles dealing with management and coworkers at this building; lateral violence was present at all levels at the Wabano Centre.
The coworkers range from completely toxic to really caring there is no in between. Being crammed into a tiny office with 4-6 other people is horribly unnecessary. The system works against clients, its hard to see them face so many barriers and to see how upset they get with such high turnover.
Some major changes need to happen in order for employees and clients to feel comfortable. Preaching and practicing Aboriginal Culture from an Indigenous perspective takes a lot of patience and practice with employees representing these key qualities. Please be advised before taking a position here. Myself like many others have written poor reviews, please consider reading them before taking a position. "Wabano is like a revolving door" -its the saying that goes along with working here.
Support Worker in Ottawa, ON Not worth your time
Let's just start off by saying all the reviews are VERY TRUE favoritism is crazy there. Management only look out for themselves and talk a big game that they care for the workers, but they'll just burn you out and toss you when they're finished with you. All they're worried about is their numbers to get more funding to purchase more art rather than help their clients with more programming.
Coordinator in Ottawa, ON Panhandling is a better place to work
Get rid of ED once and for all, let the community begin to heal. Don't walk their talk. Bonuses given to those that cook the books for ED. Ridiculous staff turnover which impacts the clients negatively.
Team Member in Vanier, ON Read the other reviews
Seriously. There's nothing new I can add. The negative reviews are reflective of what it's like to work there. If you read a 4 or 5 star review its cuz management *urged* staff to write it. Seriously. They asked me. I cannot morally lie. Culture and some colleagues are lovely, they are the same people that will be gone in less than a year as they are the ones who are ethical, kind and can't tolerate the backstabbing.
Seriously though, your work will give you loads of experience if you're starting your work-life and learn more about culture. So that's worth a few stars!
Be prepared to move on, or be left behind. Be prepared to work 11 days straight when events are on. They do not allow overtime so you take the time off when they say, if you're allowed and don't allow you to ask to be paid out which is against labour board. In my first 6 months, 12 people left and you will never get a 1.8%/inflation increase each year. in the past, anywhere from 3-8 people were crammed in one office. That has changed due to Covid, but still, be forewarned.
Support Worker in Ottawa, ON Clients were a challenge but best part of the job
Wabano has great potential, management however is toxic and crushes the spirit out of workers. Workers are treated as expendable and many have been abused/harassed by CEO. Culture of fear exists, workers are afraid to speak freely knowing they would be unceremoniously fired.
Fellow employees can be a joy to work with but hearing constant complaints about negative things happening in their departments can be draining. I witnessed massive turn over of employees while I was there. It is well known in NGO community of Ottawa that Wabano is unhealthy workplace....ironic for a health center. Some long term employees are sycophants for the CEO and will immediately run to CEO with any complaint you might tell them after they win your confidence, one more thing that makes work experience toxic.