substance abuse counselor

administrative assistant

program coordinator

case manager

recreation specialist

Bernalillo County

As a current/former employee of the Bernalillo County Emergency Communications Department, I feel compelled to share an honest perspective about the internal environment and workplace culture.

This department, unfortunately, operates in a highly toxic atmosphere fueled by widespread nepotism and persistent bullying—ranging from senior employees and supervisors to upper management, including the operations manager. Rather than cultivating a supportive, professional, and mission-driven workplace, the focus has shifted toward preserving a dysfunctional status quo.

Supervisors routinely create a hostile environment that at times borders on intimidation. The organization is perpetually understaffed, leading to excessive overtime demands and burnout. Despite this, loyalty and competence among employees are rarely acknowledged. Instead, negligent retention of problematic staff members is the norm.

Perhaps most disheartening is the shift in priorities—from safeguarding officer and public safety to prioritizing customer service pleasantries, often at the expense of mission-critical responsibilities. This rebranding undermines the very core of emergency communications.

Retaliation is rampant against those who speak out about unethical behavior or challenge the disconnect in leadership. The workplace has become widely known for its retaliatory culture, and HR appears largely disengaged when serious concerns are raised. Sadly, voicing legitimate grievances often results in professional repercussions rather than resolution.

The local union, which is meant to advocate for frontline employees, appears more aligned with management interests than with those of its dues-paying members.

What once felt like a purposeful and community-driven career has become a disillusioning experience. Dedicated employees are underappreciated, undervalued, and left to navigate a system that enables toxicity rather than addressing it.

Until meaningful leadership changes occur—and until accountability is applied to the root sources of dysfunction—this department will continue to suffer. The job, in its current state, is not worth the mental, emotional, and physical toll it takes.



What is the best part of working at the company?
The trainers who actually take the time to show you the job and the lead techs who are always willing to help with patience. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Literally everything, from the work itself to the area (middle of war zone), the environment, and clients you're transporting.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Horrible work environment, very dangerous. Not much support unless you're training and then you're basically on your own. Leadership is fake,  pushing the "family" dynamics and try to make you feel like you're so lucky to work for them but ignore your valid concerns by calling it "negativity."

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Find a parking spot,  walk inside the building hoping you don't get attacked or confronted by homeless drug addicts.  Try to find the lead tech and get your list of dosing transports which is always wrong.  Checking out the keys to the van,  hoping they're where they're supposed to be and the person checked them back in from prior usage.  Checking in with each department making sure their clients list is correct,  which it never is.  Getting the proper vehicle and calling for the clients.  Waiting for the clients to come,  lecturing them about sneaking things into the van that they're not supposed to,  dealing with corrections and mistakes on the dosing list,  transporting them to the dosing center by yourself that's crawling with homeless people using on the street surrounded by trash and dirty needles.  Getting yelled at and confronted by them,  getting stared down by random strangers while you're baby sitting grown adults getting their Methadone and fighting with them about smoking,  bringing drinks onto the van,  and not checking in properly or socializing.  Finally getting them back in the van and to the facility only to have to call for the rest of the clients going to other dosing facilities that are just as disgusting.  Then basically waiting around for other transports and expecting mentally ill,  disease infected,  or violent clients that you have no choice but to transport by yourself.

Overall had a good experience working at Bernalillo County MDC.  Limited stress for working conditions but lots of stress when it came to getting off duty.

If you are on probation or just recently off probation everyday you go to work you cant rely on getting off after your shift.  If someone calls off - you may be working a double shift.  This puts stress on family relationships and your personal life.

I left shortly after my wife passed.  While the county did have counseling available, It was hard to schedule since you weren't sure if you would be off work to attend.  There were times when I was forced overtime and unable to call or make my appointments.  Eventually I had to leave which led to losing my home.  

The most enjoyable part of the job was the cooperation of your co-workers in helping each other out.  The hardest part of the job was not knowing if you would be off work when your shift ended - forced overtime was almost daily.

Would do it again if it wasn't for the double shifts.

My supervisor was often unkind when stressed and treated me disrespectfully in private. If they disliked or were dissatisfied with someone, they would say that person lacked skills or knowledge. Even so, their position meant they were still highly regarded. The job was demanding, making it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you didn’t check emails in the evenings or on weekends, it was easy to fall behind. Most processes had no official training, and many employees said they were still confused about procedures even after years on the job. There are some great, helpful people working for the county, and most coworkers are willing to help. Still, my experience was stressful, and I never felt supported by my supervisor.

This review speaks only to the Department of Substance Abuse Programs... 

Management at the time was the type that waited until something bad happened before making changes, then put in place an overreactive policy, while usually blaming the shift workers on the front line. But topping it all off, they'd then change this policy the next week (sometimes the next day) because another or the same manager realized it was a bad idea. This place is  dying for new leadership. 

Employees are a strange mix of backgrounds from psych to recovery to corrections. So be ready to work with some people who care about people and are working in love (hopefully tough love) toward clients' recovery, while others have the prison guard mentality and freely rile up clients and backstab coworkers, whatever gives them a good shift or a pay raise.

Work culture here sucks. Coworkers are two faced and jealous. They will be friendly at first but then discard you if you don’t fit into their clique. Worked here two months and barely got a chance to be in the field. Little actual training while in the field. Earned both my NACA certifications while here for free, however was unable to use them. Fired me for not fitting in. Afterwards the company garnished my check and refused to give me my paystubs. Both me and another new coworker were from out of state and both of us were fired for not fitting in there within a week or so of each other so safe to say they don’t like outsiders. Don’t work here. 

Working here can be stressful for some given the nature of the job, but is possible once you are adequately trained. This department does have a decent training program compared to other call centers in the area. Shift supervisors encourage bullying and degradation of employees on the floor, and the harassment of employees with HR. Promotions are given solely based on seniority, not on actual qualifications. The pay and benefits are really good, and depending on staffing, there will be forced overtime. The forced overtime is somewhat manageable if you don't have a family or social life and want to make extra money. 

Absolutely recommend working at the public works. the people there are awesome. This job was seasonal which sucked but it worked out because I was pregnant and having my baby soon. The people here are amazing! There is not one person I didn't like at this company, not only did I not want to leave but I also have the best memories while working here. Communication and professionalism is definite 5 star! 

The The benefits were good. Pay and work environment were so so. I’m not sure if I would work for the County again. They seem to have a lot of issues internally good. Pay sucks  and work environment were so so. I’m not sure if I would work for the County again. They seem to have a lot of issues internally. I really do not recommend working at animal shelter. Look elsewhere I recommend the city better pay and better people to work with and management is a lot better The managers will work with you in with the kennels not like the county managers to sit in the office and pretend they are  doing somethings 

Although I was a long time employee, they refused to accommodate my disability, which occurred after I was already working therr for over a decade. I didn't ask for much, just that the building be brought up to ADA standards and make it handicapped accessible.  They went out of their way to make my life miserable until they finally drove me off.  Bernco is a horrible place to work. Apply for the City of Albuquerque instead.  They have no issues with my mobility limitations and gladly accommodated me. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Substance abuse counselor 50 salaries reported	$22.15 per hour
Administrative assistant 14 salaries reported	$22.46 per hour
Program coordinator 17 salaries reported	$70,244 per year
Case manager 26 salaries reported	$25.70 per hour
Recreation specialist 16 salaries reported	$22.86 per hour

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