Leaving NGO/charity to go back to private sector

[JengaJenny]

After a 20+ year career in the private sector, last year I managed to land my dream job at an international NGO established for a cause I am passionate about. The work has been exciting, interesting, challenging, and the change in culture was a shock to the system but in a positive way. I thought I had found my forever job.

18 months on, I’ve been subject to low level bullying by a boss, made to work on very disturbing/confronting issues with little support, and my team is now in the firing line for a massive restructure/redundancies with collective and individual consultation due to start in the next couple of months. There is so much work and no one to do it and it’s just going to get worse. My mental health is shot. I am verging on burnout.

There are virtually no similar jobs going at other organisations - layoffs are happening everywhere. I have been seriously considering ‘selling my soul’ and returning to the private sector even though I SWORE I would never go back - I was so so ready to leave and do something that felt meaningful. However, the prospect of better pay, private health insurance, much better job security and a more predictable (albeit boring) working experience is really starting to seem attractive even though these were things I was more than happy to give up when I left the sector!

Has anyone made the move back? Did you regret it? Was it a huge adjustment?

In what way was it a culture shock coming to an NGO? As imagine will be same in reverse.

I feel for you, the international sector has been hit hard.

Thanks @GreenLeavesInJuly - the culture shock was that there were loads of much younger colleagues than at previous places, a distinct lack of hierarchy, people being very passionate/vocal/not afraid at all to voice strong opinions on things that bother them, a much more diverse group of people to work with which has been brilliant. I was (and still am in some respects!) much more used to a traditional hierarchical corporate environment where people don’t seem to get passionate about very much (at work anyway!)

Without knowing what sector you are in, it is hard to suggest anything concrete, but maybe it would help to find a role in a company whose ethics align fairly well with yours?

https://sustainability-news.net/sustainability-news/top-10-uk-b-corps/

Welcome to the third sector! What you describe is absolutely rife in charities and very much typical of the national charities I have worked in. Some are better than others but there are deep rooted cultural issues across the sector.

Combine this with constant funding threats and job insecurity, alongside an often traumatised workforce with live experience of the issue they are working on, trying to support a vulnerable population on a shoe string, it's a recipe for burnout and poor practice.

The voluntary sector encompasses a huge range of organisations, which are very different to work for. Even the same charity can change from somewhere you love working to somewhere that makes you miserable with a change of manager. Your options aren't limited to this charity vs private sector but could include a move to a different non-profit. FWIW, the charity I was most miserable working for and has most overlap with your experience was a big international one whereas I've worked for several small and medium sized UK-focussed charities which were nothing like it.

Thank you @PaulKnickerless, that’s a helpful list. I would definitely only move to an organisation that was either a B Corp or had VERY solid/tangible social values and real opportunities to get involved.

@TartanMammy that’s equally reassuring and depressing 😩 I feel as though I was INCREDIBLY naive and convinced myself that working for something “meaningful” would more than counteract the pay/conditions, and that everyone I worked with would put the mission ahead of any internal pettiness/politics (hollow laugh)

Thank you @arachne123, that’s a great observation and very true. I’m a trustee for/volunteer at a couple of small local charities which are brilliant with genuinely passionate people making such a different to the community - sadly there are zero employment prospects with them as they are very volunteer-led with minimal funding. I have been scouring the job ads for a few months now but it feels like an impossible time to be in the sector with mass redundancies and hiring freezes absolutely everywhere.

Part of me is thinking I might be able to make a more meaningful contribution by moving back to private and having more money to (1) donate much more (my donations have dropped since I joined the sector because I can’t afford to give much!) and (2) drop to 4 days a week (which I can’t currently afford to do) and use that fifth day to focus on my volunteering/pick up some more. Really tricky decision.

I'm about to do exactly that. The charity sector is unfortunately riven with poor practice, inexperienced trustees and HR practitioners who insist on being nice rather than effective. I've had enough. The private sector may be harsh at times but there's nothing like the bottom line for concentrating minds on action.

I have worked in the charity sector for 20 years and I have seen it go downhill in the past 10 years.

Every charity I work for now has the same issues: useless board members and CEO with a culture of exploiting staff and bullying. This results in high staff turnover and lots of people off sick.

There is a lot of talk about diversity and equality in charities but in reality I have seen so much poor practice when it comes to supporting employees with disabilities/long term health conditions. I have also seen a lot of dodgy fundraising practices and money wasted on vanity projects.

I am currently on sick leave with stress after burning out (had the same thing 2 years ago in the same organisation).

Can't wait to leave this job...

You could try giving the sector another chance by researching carefully other charities, because there is no doubt there are good organisations out there, as potential employers but honestly in your shoes I would get back to the private sector.

@oldestmumaintheworld - yes yes yes to “nice but ineffective”. Everyone seems so concerned about bringing their “authentic selves” to work and not stifling anyone else’s authentic self that bullying/conflict is passed off as “constructive conversations” and not enough is done to keep egos and bad behaviour in check.

@Greenartywitch I’m so sorry to hear that and hope things get better for you soon. I have been to my GP twice in the last 6 weeks due to stress and she has wanted to sign me off each time but for some stupid reason I’ve refused and have instead bumped up my antidepressant dose just so I can cope. Which seems mad now that I’m writing it down. For all the terrible times I had in the private sector (and there were more than a few!) I don’t recall them affecting me as badly as this.

This chimes with my experience of working for a household name charity. Some fantastic people there but definite pockets of bullying that weren't dealt with and an under confident CEO who was forever rearranging the deckchairs.

I think your plan of going back to the private sector and volunteering for a day a week is a really good one. And if you're that burnt out I'd definitely take a bit of sick leave now, just a couple of weeks to restore yourself so that it doesn't get worse

Thank you @Almahart - absolutely, there are some brilliant inspiring people here doing incredible work which is why it feels like such a wrench to leave. But I don’t think I can ignore what my gut/plummeting mental health is telling me.

The charity sector is more cash poor these days as the public is donating less. I have found that being well resourced is more likely to facilitate a harmonious workplace. I think you would be sensible to move for a good quality private sector opportunity.

I would echo others saying that it would be worth you taking some sick leave to give yourself some space and recovery time. Your health is really important.

Same in the public sector. It’s dire. Turds float to the top often getting promoted upwards and sidewards so they surround themselves with similar who won’t challenge them.

I think the bit you said about only going to work for a private company that doesn’t cause the kind of issues the charity was trying to stop/make better/clean up is key. (OK they weren’t your words.)

Otherwise you’d just be making the problem worse - whilst having nice healthcare.

But that’s easier said than done. Not so many of those companies around.