Again, a concrete example would have strengthened this article.

I do think you raise the good point of the fact that conflict management at nonprofits is often just the Executive Director telling someone to “get out” with no chance for probation, explanation, or following any established procedures.

What needs to happen is nonprofit unions whereby nonprofit workers can band together and DEMAND due process and better treatment.

The board isn’t going to do it for them, and senior leadership certainly has no reason to do it. Nonprofit workers can join different kinds of unions, there is one for “office workers” and also one for “service workers.” the SEIU seems to cover both.

I interviewed for a job once where the nonprofit had been unionized, and it seemed like the most SANE and FABULOUS fundraising environment I had ever walked into. The ED knew exactly what to expect of me and what not to expect, and there were mandated pay raises, total health insurance coverage, and clear established modes of communication.

I recently blogged about nonprofit unions here: http://www.wildwomanfundraising.com/fundraisers-union/