group leader

site manager

teaching assistant

teacher's aide

engagement specialist

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency

Wayne Metro has been nothing more than a blessing, especially during Covid times. They generally do care about the welfare of their employees and express this nature on a regular, by giving surveys and asking for feedback on a regular. You get to work with some AWESOME individuals and your giving back and making a difference in someone’s lives daily. The salary can be weekly, lots of holidays off, opportunities for overtime, etc. 

There’s areas to explore, learn, and gain a lot of experience as a contractual employee. It’s non profit life, very flexible and laid back. Although, when there’s work there’s work and usually when it comes there an overwhelming amount and a limited time to get projects done, nonetheless it’s worth it because the outcomes are usually good as far as helping individuals with grant money. I personally do not always feel that everyone who seeks the services receive the opportunity of equal funding, but the resources are great to take advantage of. 

Network, explore, learn, grow and use all of the resources you can use, personally and professionally take advantage of free events that can help you with financial responsibility, purchasing a new home, gaining more insight in your recent or future position, etc. 

Management is tricky, in some areas I’ve witnessed favoritism, which somehow depends on who receive certain projects or work, but nonetheless I have been blessed to receive some good managers, who have personally took the time to display their appreciation for me and willingness to be attentive in understanding my overall professional goals with the company. You may get hired to do something completely different than what you were assigned for, there’s a lot of moving around and helping other teams out, wish I knew this up front. Pay is decent could be more, depending on the Dept, you do more for less, but it’s worth it. 

I worked for Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency for MANY years, and unfortunately the last 3 years under the newer leadership within the Administrative Assistant department were some of the most stressful and poorly managed working conditions I have experienced.

Administrative staff were expected to find their own lunch coverage and PTO coverage without any meaningful assistance from management. If coverage could not be found, PTO requests were often denied. Despite there being multiple managers overseeing the department, there was little to no willingness from leadership to step in and assist staff so employees could take lunches or approved time off properly.

Policies were also enforced that were not officially outlined in the employee handbook at the time. The environment became extremely micromanaged. Although the agency already had IT-managed security cameras throughout the buildings, the Administrative Manager had additional cameras installed specifically angled toward administrative assistants. It felt invasive and unnecessary. Once upper management became aware of the situation, those cameras were reportedly ordered to be repositioned because they were not appropriate for the stated purpose.

Another major issue was the lack of management support. Administrative staff were often left to handle hostile clients and difficult situations alone while management avoided stepping in when requested. Applications for clients would sometimes sit unresolved for months past deadlines, creating frustration for both consumers and front desk staff who were then left dealing with the backlash.

The overall structure, communication, and support during my final years there caused a great deal of stress and anxiety. I stayed for many years because I cared about the work and the people being served, but the lack of professionalism, accountability, and employee support made the environment increasingly difficult to work in.

I am a 19yr employee here. The company has a great culture, values, mission, and lives by its guiding principles. Even during the pandemic, we managed to stay connected. A typical day at WM involves service. Service to clients and service to each other. We take care of each other. Management isn't perfect, but if you bring concerns to their attention, they will work to make things right. Staff are asked their opinions through surveys and questionnaires. There is an employee engagement and DEI committee made up of staff at all levels. My supervisor supports me and often checks in to make sure things are ok. 
The hardest part of the job is sometimes not being able to help people in need because of a lack of funding. Work can be demanding, but it is rewarding. We are asked to work hard but the fringe benefits are excellent, 401k match, generous paid time off, and a multitude of other benefits (child care, gym memberships, flexible hours, etc.). 
It's amazing that this is a non-profit.


Typical day: I would show up before anybody else. Wait to be let into the building then go inside answer phones when I was told this was not a call center job. See clients. Attempt to help clients find emergency shelter, however there never was any available. provide clients with resources for housing, clothing, food pantries.

What I learned: how to disappoint people 8 straight hours a day.

Management: management promoted favorites who should not have been in their position. The director and executive director have no applicable degrees to what is going on in that department.

Workplace culture: toxic.  You make friends with other people who are miserable there. Constantly being told the funding would be yanked away. Being asked by the CEO to form a PAC and donate each paycheck to it

Hardest part of the job: being cussed out for not being able to offer any shelter beds. Having managers who have an attitude with everybody and decide that they don’t like you arbitrarily.

Most enjoyable: making friends with your coworkers.



What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part will always be helping the community.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part about working here is the extreme micromanagement, lack of raises, and that favoritism and nepotism is not hidden at all when it comes to promotions agency wide.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Leadership likes to instill fear with the possibility of losing your job if outrageous metrics are not met, it is known that only those that are relatives or friends with leadership will be promoted even if they lack experience and knowledge, and the constant micromanagement makes working unbearable. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Helping clients in person, attending events in the community, client house visits, and a great part of computer work.

One thing that I cannot ever complain about at WM are the benefits: 50% fitness reimbursement, student loan paydown, tuition assistance, 401k with 6% match, premium-free health insurance, flexible spending account, about 1 PTO day per paycheck, etc…

However, salaries vary A LOT between departments. Actual salary band $s are kept a secret, so you’ll have no idea if you’re being paid 5-10k less than someone with a lower title and fewer responsibilities. Pretty messed up and hurts morale! It’s no wonder why the turnover is so high despite the good benefits.

Management also greatly varies by department, some managers/asst. directors/directors are nightmare micromanagers, whereas some departments are led by competent and kind people. Leadership tends to reward personality and brown-nosing more than hard work and merit. A lot of workplace politics to be aware of.

Typical Day:  8:45 Mandatory Meeting every day, case management, home visits.

Management:  Many Levels, Director, Assistant Director, Program Manager, Coordinator.   Unfortunately management above Program Manager are demanding and out of touch with their subordinates.   Causing departmental stress.
Workplace Culture:  Toxic, Nepotism, Favoritism, and Micromanagement.
Hardest Part of Job:  Just being allowed to do your job, to many meetings, constant change and high turnover affect job performance and add to stress.  Unfortunately WMCA needs more resources to help clients with Mental Health Issues in order to provide structure in hope that the client's will not become homeless again. 
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:  Helping individuals 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The flexibility of hours they offer full & part time hours. The incentives are great and the company in a whole has an environment that is very welcoming and family oriented 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It can be challenging mentally especially when your hands are tied when trying to help clients 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Friendly and family oriented environment, and it's a multi culture company that's continually growing 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Busy, but fun. I work with children doing what I passionately love to do. Which is Art, Science, Math and more. So for me I go in optimistic and leave out fulfilled

A typical day at work would consist of getting activities ready for the children and helping them with any homework or coping skills. I learned to listen and empathize with the children, just because they’re children doesn’t mean their opinions doesn’t matter. I would have to say management get an F because they’re more concerned with cliques rather than the betterment of the job as a whole. Culturally it’s diverse. The hardest part of the job was management and supervision, as I stated there are too many cliques within this organization. Going home after dealing with an unbalanced workplace.

The department I was in had no budget. They barely had budget for anything, have to save stuff in order for them to keep going out, my rate was wrong for a very long time, no benefits, work weekends, the environment didn't feel great unless you were older and with kids. there's no room for raises or upper management unless you really work hard. they help their customers more than they help their own agency. Felt weird working here because they would really hype the work environment up and say how great it is, but I never really saw what the hype was about. Some managers are nice

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Group leader 19 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Site manager 14 salaries reported	$68,786 per year
Teaching assistant 12 salaries reported	$18.58 per hour
Teacher's aide 13 salaries reported	$18.50 per hour
Engagement specialist 9 salaries reported	$19.89 per hour

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