Trevor Project responds to reports of staff dissension, union busting
The Trevor Project, a non-profit that works to end suicide among LGBTQ youth, responded to a recent Washington Blade report alleging widespread staff dissension, union busting, and other challenges, acknowledging it needs to improve the working environment for its crisis counselors, but disputing many of the other allegations made by nearly a dozen current and former senior employees.
The Blade story, published on Aug. 10, further alleges long wait times for distressed callers and some former staffers said the organization grew too quickly, resulting in a drop in service quality. “A lot of us were joking that it was the most corporatized nonprofit that anyone has ever worked for,” said a former mid-level employee who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It was very money driven, very growth, growth, growth.” But a former Trevor official responded, saying that the growth enabled Trevor to help more youth in crisis and that significant changes were made to improve service.
Trevor declined to make senior leadership available for interviews for the Aug. 10 story nor would sources speak with attribution for this story.
Specifically, a Trevor spokesperson said the organization made the following changes: Shifting Clinical Operations’ focus to prioritize quality, sustainability, and impact instead of growth; Transforming the staffing model across lifeline and digital crisis services to address overnight understaffing, inaccurate workforce planning, and unrealistic goals; Increasing pay and wellness benefits for Clinical Operations staff.
