Good Benefits | Lacking Leadership - Anonymous employee Flamboyan Employee Review

I came to Flamboyan after a soul-crushing job that demanded 60-80 hours/week with no overtime pay and no acknowledgment of my tireless efforts. I was exhausted, frustrated, and lacked self-confidence, and was unconvinced that I could find an employer that would let me do meaningful work while also having a life and time for my family. Thankfully, I was soon hired by Flamboyan and discovered that that place DID exist. After a few years with the organization, I consider the pros to be: - Work/life balance. My work days are full, but my after-work hours are respected. I appreciate the boundaries AND we do what we need to do when the work requires it. I find that working the occasional evening or night is manageable when your time is respected on the whole. - Meaningful work. There is a lot to do and we pursue our goals with passion. I appreciate that we're able to adjust course as needed, particularly when the education landscape has been ever-changing the last few years through COVID. You're encouraged to shift strategy when the work needs it. - Dedicated colleagues. Flamboyan hires incredible people who are committed to the mission and do what needs to be done for students and families. I feel lucky to be surrounded by smart people who are eager to collaborate toward strong outcomes. If you prefer to work in a silo, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Accessible leadership. Getting time with senior leaders at my previous employers was a whole production and hard to come by. At Flamboyan, the "door-open" policy is real, particularly if you have concerns or issues you'd like to raise. - Good benefits. Flamboyan has solid vacation and leave policies, including family leave, and the health insurance has been good for my family (we actually chose Flamboyan's insurance over my spouse's option). I also appreciate the periodic paid Wellness Days and WFH weeks, as well as flexibility when I've needed it. -Opportunity to try stuff, learn, and adjust. I've learned so much in my time at Flamboyan because of our willingness to take risks in the work, and it's helped me grow as a professional. All staff are encouraged to bring ideas -- big ideas! -- to the table, and are given the autonomy to figure out how to get there. If you have trouble navigating through ambiguity, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Committed to DEI work. Flamboyan has not shied away from its DEI journey over the last several years, and strives to be an anti-racist organization. Again, this is something I never would have gotten elsewhere, and I've been grateful for the work as difficult as it can be. If you prefer to point out the window instead of look in the mirror, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Beautiful workspace. Flamboyan takes great pride in creating a welcoming space for employees and visitors, including a recent redecoration after coming back from COVID. It's a historic building so there are some limitations on what's possible but on the whole, I enjoy our office space. Its location near Dupont Circle is easily metro accessible and close to lots of dining options.

- Opportunities for advancement. Because Flamboyan is a small organization, there aren't abundant opportunities for advancement unless someone leaves and/or a new role is created. However, there are opportunities for in-role promotions that include increased pay as well as additional responsibilities and chances to grow. It's not unusual to see folks spend a few years at Flamboyan before moving onto an opportunity elsewhere at a higher level. I've found leadership to be quite transparent about this in their hiring guides. - Salary. I'd actually say the pay is competitive, but in comparison to some of the school districts or other ed-focused employers in the area, it's going to feel lower. To me, the slightly lower salary was worth the tradeoff for a great work-life balance, in addition to the benefits. - WFH days. While the 4 days in office mostly works for me, I'd love to see Flamboyan transition to a 3 days in office/2 days at home schedule. We can often over-meeting ourselves, and adding another WFH day could help protect our work time.

Through white lies, one-percenters' money, and the extraction of every ounce of talent from underpaid, dedicated, and intelligent people, Flamboyan has been able to solidify a decent reputation in the field.

What began as a well-intentioned operating foundation has devolved into a sycophantic tax shelter actively causing harm to current and former employees with wonton disregard for the needs of the students they purport to care about. Leadership forced employees back to in-person work without proper supports in place - attempting to position it as being in solidarity with the families and educators of DC - yet the CEO sends her children to one of the most expensive private schools in the area. While other reviewers may attempt to characterize the revolving door of hires the last few years as a positive and/or deflect blame onto the employees, before 2021, many employees surpassed the 5 year mark of tenure. What changed? Leadership. The organizational leadership has become increasingly top heavy and insular, choosing to listen to a select few and when those chosen ones don't toe the party line, they are pushed out - often at the cost of their mental and emotional well being. If one were to look into the hallmarks of white supremacy culture, they would easily find each alive and well within Flamboyan's *gorgeous* office space. The pay and benefits are the bare minimum; which, historically, was okay for many staff members because they were given the autonomy, support, and collaboration to do meaningful work. This is no longer true - as evidence by the reviews on this page. Potential applicants: beware and please, please do your research.