What do you do when your employer isn't doing things rightly, but not illegally either?

Hi Reddit,

I need advice about my current employment.

I work for a nonprofit in Canada and the longer that I am here, the more red flags come up that, as far as I can tell, aren’t illegal, but are not right either.

I began working in February, officially - as that is when I signed a contract. I was told I needed to volunteer some time as a probationary period before I was paid. So for two weeks in January, I volunteered my time. (Two weeks is six days - the office is open three days a week). To me, this isn’t a huge deal, because I really value the work this nonprofit does. Since then, however, there have been growing concerns, some of which include:

1. Mis-managing our petty cash (we have a system where anything bought for work, if using your own cash or card, you put in a receipt and take out the exact cash needed).
2. Confidentiality issues: We work with clients and ‘should’ have strict confidentiality policies in place, but there have been numerous suggestions (and some follow up) of donors meeting clients, which is a huge No.
3. Conflict of Interest: My direct boss is the Executive Director. We have a Board of Directors, but my boss is friends (as in they went to school together) with the Board of Directors.
4. No Policy and Procedures Manual: I am currently writing a complete manual, based off of an example from a similar work environment and researching the job regulations and laws that pertain to our area. But from a conversation with my boss, in the past five years, they have never had a proper Policy and Procedures Manual and the Board has never read what they have had (a manual from a different workplace that is not specific to us). Human Resources is not my area of expertise.
5. No renewed contract: My contract expired in April. I have been told/emailed that it is my job to draw a contract for myself with another probationary period included.

These are the biggest issues that I’ve found in the last few months - Number 4 and 5 are from the last two weeks...

I’m so frustrated because, like I said, I admire what our workplace does but I don’t admire my E.D. because of what is happening at work and because I have tried talking to my boss about some of these issues. My boss becomes easily defensive and does not listen to the concerns I have and tries blaming myself and my coworker.

I am currently applying for jobs, but I don’t know what to do, where to go for work a) because I started here only five months ago and b) it took me a year to get this job.

If you have any encouragement, please help!

Thanks Reddit!