-Lacks diversity in upper management
-Micromanagement and bureaucracy cascades down from the highest levels far more than it should. Even trivial decisions can require approval at multiple levels.
There are a lot of head-scratching moments at HCSS. I've witnessed many confounding decisions and can only throw up my hands and move along because middle and upper-level management doesn't necessarily want (and rarely solicits) opinions or feedback.
You will often be faced with a clear contradiction. A slogan used is, "We don't do things a certain way just because that's how we've always done it." Yet, it's not rare to meet great resistance to new ideas or to hear, "Well, just do this because that's the way *upper-management figure* wants to do it." (Which happens to be the way we've always done it, with the same "reasoning".)
The recent COVID-19 response has been sub-optimal at best. We keep hearing from management that we are returning soon and nearly all of the chatter is about those preparations. But we should be hearing just as much about the contingency plans, the risks and infections at the office, and a better sense that the return date isn't just something arbitrary that our executives have set their mind to (and can't be dissuaded from). There is a strong sense that the return to "our culture" is more important than people's safety. What kind of culture would that be if it disregards employee safety?
The TMC states that the Houston area has spiked to over 2,000 cases a day (Aug 4th, 2021) vs 133 cases last month and the only thing being discussed with me is whether I have everything I need to return to the office. Am I testing my equipment? (In the last week alone, I've witnessed people being mandated to go in and work a full day in the office to get back into the "swing of things").
With an infection percentage rate increase North of 1400%, that's a bit silly, isn't it? Beyond silly, dangerous and thoughtless.