Parents & Friends Inc, Fort Bragg CA

Yes, I am a disgruntled, former employee of Parents & Friends. I worked here briefly - performing a job one of the program directors wasn't capable of (she is no longer with the company). I was hired under the pretext of long-term employment. They "let me go" after just two months, once I had completing the task of redeveloping/improving their scheduling system. I was paid very little - just over minimum wage - for a job that should have been contracted at a much higher rate. I was naive. I learned a valuable lesson I suppose. Parents and Friends does provide quality service to its clients. However, they take great advantage of their Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Day in, day out, I worked alongside other (mostly) women - several older - being paid very little, less than I, who diligently ensured clients were well cared for. Simultaneously, this "non-profit" was amassing substantial amounts of income, mostly from Sonoma County, and spending large sums on various things that benefited few within the organization - neither clients nor staff. When attending a monthly Board Meeting, I was appalled at the greed I witnessed! In addition, the CEO (Rick Moon) would arrive leisurely late in the morning, take an extended lunch, return inebriated and leave mid-afternoon - all the while receiving a hefty salary! Maybe things have changed since I left but I feel strongly this business is crooked - taking full advantage of the challenging, competitive job market in the area, taking full advantage of free, tax-payer money from Sonoma County and taking advantage of their tax-exempt status. I feel strongly the salaries of the DSPs should match what the county pays - at the time I left nearly double what they earned. Anything less is theft in my opinion - theft from hard working employees who deserve a living wage. If Rick Moon can't generate enough donations as CEO to pay his six-figure salary, perhaps he should seek employment elsewhere - somewhere he can do good rather than ride on the backs of people less fortunate and less privileged.