Toxic culture, weak leadership and unsustainable workload.The good thingsLimited. A small number of good colleagues and the free Christmas ham.
The challengesMy experience was overwhelmingly negative and aligned with the cultural issues identified in the organisation's 2024 independent review. There appeared to be significant gaps in leadership accountability, contributing to an environment where internal politics, inconsistent decision-making, and low psychological safety were common. Trust in the organisation was difficult to maintain, particularly given concerns around confidentiality, transparency, and how people-related matters were handled. Workloads were frequently excessive and not managed sustainably, resulting in prolonged pressure and burnout. Over time, this environment had a meaningful impact on my wellbeing and confidence. While the organisation has publicly acknowledged cultural issues, it is not clear that meaningful or consistent change has been embedded across all areas, particularly at a leadership level.