"Disillusioned" Former Congressional Staffers Describe a "Toxic Workplace"

I talked to former Hill aides about a system that chews young workers up and spits them out

Unionization efforts on the Hill are picking up as Congressional staffers fight for representation and to change a toxic culture of overwork and stress. 

“The congressional culture is an extension of the broader political culture as a whole,” one former staffer, John, said. 

It’s no surprise that turnover on the Hill is so high. The unionization drive is coming from a place of deep frustration. Staffers pour their blood, sweat, and tears into a system that could care less about them. 

I talked to John and other former aides about their experiences working in Congress. 

Here’s what they told me.

Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

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