Last month I started another Data Collection Project created to learn more about how people identify, respond to, and learn from Red Flags they observed or experienced while job-hunting or after joining a new organization. This inaugural report will offer two parts – this first part shares quantitative data, and a second part will summarize qualitative responses.
The following quantitative data summarizes 21 participant responses:
- 91% are female; 10% are non-binary/third gender
- 71% are Caucasian; 10% are Multi-racial; 5% each are African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx/Hispanic
- 75% are Experienced libraries/archives workers (more than 10 years’ experience); 15% are mid-career; 10% are new libraries/archives workers
- The red flag happened:
- 48% at a current workplace
- 33% at a past workplace
- 19% during a job interview process
- The workplace/organization was:
- 38% urban/metropolitan-based public library
- 24% four-year public college/university
- 10% technical or community college
- 5% each: for-profit college/university; four-year private college/university; suburban-based public library; exurban-based public library; rural-based public library
- Generally, the red flag(s) were connected to:
- 76% Leadership Styles
- 62% Staffing/Employment
- 67% Negative Workplace Behaviors;
- 52% each: Personality conflicts;
- 47% Human Resources
- Length of employment at the time of the red flag(s):
- 41% 1 year or more
- 29% 1- 3 months
- 24% 7-9 months
- 6% 4- 6 months
- Responses to red flag(s):
- 67% shared recognition with friends/family
- 62% shared observations with co-workers
- 52% each: asked more questions about incident(s)/behavior(s); documented the incident(s)/behavior(s)
- 43% reported the incident(s)/behavior(s)
- 24% each rationalized them or left the organization
- 19% ignored them
- 14% shared recognition with the offender(s)
- 10% declined to join the organization
- Did a low-morale experience become part of your employment with the organization after you witnessed the red flag(s)?
- 86% Yes
- 14% No
- If a low-morale experience became part of your employment, did your experience include the red flag issue(s) you witnessed?
- 84% Yes, and other issues were introduced
- 11% No, but new issues were introduced
- 5% Yes
- Other issues that were introduced:
- 73% Negative Workplace Behaviors
- 63% Leadership Styles
- 53% Personality conflicts
- 47% Communication
- 42% Staffing/Employment; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility
- 37% Human Resources
- 32% each: Worksite/Facility issues; Policies and Procedures
- 26% each: Interview Processes; Funding and Fiscal Resources; Policies; Politics; Onboarding Processes
- 16% General Environment/Landscape (adjacent to/on the way to job location)
- 5% each: Safety and Security; Other: “Ongoing unaddressed homelessness and mental health patrons”
Part 2 is coming soon. Please participate in this data collection project. I’ll be updating results periodically.
