We are NOLS’ Employee Organization
We represent the views of NOLS’ employees, including HQ Employees, Location Staff, and Wilderness Medicine / Field Faculty
We are a 501(c)(5) tax exempt Labor Organization, legally, financially, and operationally independent from the NOLS administration.
What We Do
We gather feedback from employees and represent these views to the decision makers at the School. We also support the flow of information the other way, from the Board of Trustees to the newest hire. We work directly with the administration to support employees and to make the school a better place to work, learn, and live.
Specific examples include:
Representation at all NOLS Board of Trustees Meetings
Partnering with school leadership to communicate what works well for employees and to help identify opportunities for growth
Holding space for employees to build community with one another across the school through in-person meets at locations, virtual meet-ups, and one-on-one conversations and mentorship
Listening to front-line employees' wins and passions for their work, and helping them improve their working lives through listening and acting on their concerns
Supporting employee-led projects that benefit front-line employees throughout the school through disbursal of funds from the "Flamingo Fund"
Our Accomplishments
Many things that NOLS does to support employees began as NOLS Employee Assocation projects. We may now take these “basics” for granted, but it was our advocacy, organization, and funding that got the ball rolling.
Examples include:
Seminars
The Staff Newsletter
Annual Workplace Safety Training
Instructor Storage in the Noble Hotel
Pro Deal Privileges
Instructor Development Fund
Some advocacy wins:
Increasing Compensation for all Employees
Growing Travel Reimbursements
More Equitable International Pay Scales
Additional Briefing Time for Rescue Practice
An Employee-Only WiFi Network in the Noble Hotel
Current Priorities
Employee Engagement, including:
Quarterly meetings to gather perspectives and feedback about working at NOLS from a disparate workforce.
The inclusion of at least one NOLS Employee Association representative at all Board of Trustees meetings
Educating employees about NOLS' structure and strategy and facilitating consistent communication between Headquarters and far-flung faculty and staff
Creating opportunities for newer employees to connect with other employees in a hybrid work environment.
Mentorship & Careers, including:
Working with the People Team to help employees chart sustainable, growth-oriented careers across NOLS.
Working with the People Team to identify ways to retain the best employees through increased pay, opportunities for professional growth, and increased responsibilities
Advocating for more predictable career progressions by increasing the number of Annual Faculty Positions, and giving input into the career mapping program
