Tulsa Community College reviews about "culture"

My tenure at Tulsa Community College's IT department was far from ideal. While I had hoped for a fulfilling and productive work environment, I found myself in a situation that left much to be desired. From my perspective, the workplace at TCC's IT department was plagued by a toxic atmosphere. Here are some of the troubling aspects I encountered during my time there: Condescending Behavior: I frequently encountered condescending and backhanded comments, which made it challenging to collaborate and contribute effectively. Micromanagement: The management style seemed to favor an authoritarian approach, with phrases like "my way or the highway" and an insistence on "butts in seats." The policy of discouraging seeking help from teammates in favor of going directly to the supervisor was stifling. Boundary Violations: My lunch breaks were often interrupted, sometimes with a subtle nudge to cut them short. This lack of respect for personal time was disheartening. Unclear Expectations: The ever-changing and conflicting training and expectations left me feeling constantly on edge. It seemed like a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" scenario. Gaslighting: Instances of gaslighting were not uncommon, with phrases like "We talked about this" or "You should know this" being used when there was no prior discussion or clarity on the matter. Public Humiliation: Dressing down employees in front of their peers was not uncommon, contributing to a demoralizing atmosphere. Excessive Check-Ins: Daily pre-shift check-ins felt more like a leash than a supportive practice, adding unnecessary pressure. Lack of Communication: Communication within the team, in one-on-one meetings, and at the department level was severely lacking. This resulted in unnecessarily tight deadlines, stress, and confusion. Performance Evaluation: The absence of department metrics or KPIs made it impossible to objectively track our performance. This subjectivity in reviews and raises was concerning. Some more notable issues from leadership added another layer of complexity to the work environment: Lack of Feedback: lacked the ability to provide constructive feedback, hindering the professional development of the team. Lazy Work Ethic: A noticeable lack of motivation and a seemingly lazy work ethic were evident in daily operations. Poor People Skills: interactions with colleagues across the college were marked by poor people skills, leading to discontent among staff. Questionable Leadership Skills: leadership skills appeared to be derived from outdated sources, and the reluctance to embrace change hindered progress. Job Advancement and Internal Growth: Before deciding to resign for a new job, I attempted to move to a new role within the college as an internal applicant. The role was one where I met or surpassed 90% of the requirements, and had already been posted for nearly nine months. I reached out to HR via email for clarification on the details of the role, the hiring manager's contact details, and any training I could get started on in my spare time before applying for the role in the near future. My email went unanswered for weeks. So, going another route I eventually was able to track down the name of the hiring manager and reached out to express my interest in the role after putting in my application. Essentially, after waiting weeks for a response, I was told "Thank you for applying. The college is currently doing a pay structure review, and if this role is included, that might affect our applicant pool. I'll get back to you in a few weeks". What that translates to is, "Now that the role might have a higher salary, we are hoping we will find the perfect unicorn candidate after almost ten months of searching. If we don't end up with anyone better, then maybe we will consider you for an interview". So yeah, internal growth within the college is based on the subjective minds of the gatekeepers in their ivory towers. In conclusion, my experience at Tulsa Community College's IT department was far from what I had anticipated. The toxic work environment, lack of clear communication, and ineffective leadership were major drawbacks to what could have been a fulfilling IT job and long-lasting career at TCC. I hope that my feedback can contribute to positive changes in the department's culture and management practices for the benefit of future employees.