Project Angel Fouls Part 1

I have worked with Project Angel Food for the last couple of years. In the beginning, I had no idea what I was getting into; I had never heard of them! This is ironic for someone who has a non-profit background and the fact that this is a very well-publicized organization. Right from the start I was thrown off by how unorganized and unprofessional they were. Hired in September of '21, the height of the pandemic and PAF's exponential growth of employers, I was told a start date that fell on either a holiday or weekend which meant the offices were closed. Then I was told a different date, which fell on a Sunday. I arrived expecting to get behind the wheel along with the other recent new hires. The manager asks if I've done any paperwork, for example filling out their insurance forms. "No, this is my first day." Only dispatch is open on Sundays, so I had to come back the next day. This didn't bother me but immediately communicated a poor lack of attention to detail. This manager told me to arrive in the morning but not right away since the other manager I needed to speak to might come in a little later. Again I arrived, but this time met with hostility: 'Weren't we supposed to meet at such and such time?' 

Within the first month, I and other employees discovered that one employee was very immature...unprofessional... inappropriate....and intolerable. I personally heard this employee comment on the underwear of another's and what was worse it was a homophobic joke-something they did not shy away from! This employee still works for PAF today. 

I've driven and still drive vans that are falling apart (just like Amazon's). One employee finally quit after being miles away from base with a van whose sliding door wouldn't stay shut. I had to go rescue this person. This same vehicle I later had to drive and was not informed how to "properly close it " due to its damage. I ended up hurting my wrist from slamming it all day.

Today after being told since January about raises and having them pushed back twice we received them. $1. Of course, everyone is going to jump on it because we live in Southern California and need every cent, but $1? After taxes that's not even going to buy a McDonald's cheeseburger! This "raise" was a major slap in to face to employees who for months been "helping managers" with their duties and not being compensated for it. I was told however that last year's raise was more due to inflation...how every year it's going to fluctuate because we're a nonprofit and won't always bring in the income. Yet, just a couple weekends ago we held a very well-to-do ceremony where we award generous donors...

I love how when it comes to a matter of pay those in charge are quick to remind you we are a nonprofit, but when it comes to enforcing their new policies it's always, "Nonprofits are run just like businesses."

Who's going to fight for us? The CEO, Richard Ayoub, who makes $230,000+? The same person I've heard say to my manager, "Look at me when I am talking to you!" (Right...right...and this coming from a white man to a black man is even more distasteful). The same person who shoos people out of his office and brings in a majorly expensive Union Buster. The same person who's allowed to park (with their 'new' tesla) in our small parking lot but not the rest of the 90+ employees.

Or

The Human Resources Supervisor, Francisco Perez, who told me personally that he "can't be responsible for answering every email" after I had emailed him a total of four times concerning applying my Short Term Disability benefits. The same person who months ago was trying to implement a points system to control time theft and said that "even if public transit were the cause of you being late you would still get a point." The same person who entered his same contest for a holiday celebration we had which involved financial prizes.      

I am not the only person who has experienced hurt and seen violations at PAF. In the coming weeks with these individuals' permission and respecting confidentiality, I will be sharing their stories. Why? In hopes that someone hears us and can bring justice, reconstruction, and create a different work culture. Project Angel Food may be all glitz and glamour on news stations, but behind the scenes, we have managers who slept with coworkers, police called on angry employees, sexual assault cases, and served chicken with feathers.  

May it be known that I am a whistleblower and I love my job. I love its mission. 

We deserve to be heard because we deserve better.