Avoid if possible
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
There are some really lovely people working here, and you can form good working relations with most colleagues. Most people truly believe in what CIEE offers and the power of studying abroad. Thanks to that, there can be a really nice work climate.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
CIEE Berlin, as most CIEE centers in Europe, is not a very nice place to work at. I would recommend it as a starter job for young graduates, I would avoid it if you’re working on your career and searching for a role that yields growth and recognition, or a job that offers benefits and a decent salary. Even for an NGO, it’s important to know the company will pay the absolute minimum possible, (while the CEO gets 1.5 million dollars a year) and also important to know there are no benefits.
No subsidized public transport, no health benefits (physical or mental), no free meals, drinks or fresh fruit, no bonuses (except for the yearly $250 dollars before tax, though I don’t think that can be considered a bonus.) Also no flexible work, home office is extremely limited and strict (2 non-consecutive days per week for full-time employees, and zero for anyone working under 36 hours a week).
There is one winter holiday dinner, which does not count as working hours (it was made very clear employees are expected to join but on their own time), and one summer party, also not considered working hours. There is also a pension plan you can opt into, but I don’t believe the company contributes much (maybe 10 to 20% of what you pay from your salary).
The other side of this is the management team. CIEE is an incredibly hierarchical place. There is no initiative or recognition or encouragement for growth (at least for center staff). There is also no transparency and information is often not shared. All this and more leads to a toxic work place. In the last 12 months, 5 employees have been on extended sick-leave (burnout). That accounts for about 20% of center staff in Berlin. There are such behaviors as actually yelling and screaming at employees. Also a lot of micro aggressions. All this without any accountability as there is no actual HR. The designated HR person is more of an admin and finance person, not someone who is trained in dealing with humans.