Toxic Core Leadership Undermines a Strong Team — Needs Urgent Change - Community Assistant/Leasing Agent Cal-Prop Employee Review

The pay and commission structure for leasing is great. Plenty of opportunities and room to promote. The owner of the company will often create bonus incentives to lease. The people are hardworking and fun!

High turnover, if you cannot manage your own work load and schedule this job isnt for you. A lot of driving at times. If you need constant redirection and guidance, this job also probably isn’t for you.

The pay was fair and location was great.

When I was first hired at Cal-Prop, I was genuinely excited. I met many hardworking, kind, and talented people—some of whom I’m still close friends with today. Unfortunately, my positive first impression changed significantly over time due to what I experienced within the company’s leadership and workplace culture. The biggest issue, in my experience, was leadership. The company’s environment became increasingly difficult because of what I perceived as poor management practices, lack of accountability, and a culture of fear among employees. One of the most concerning parts of my experience involved the Vice President, Melissa Young. In my opinion, her leadership style created an extremely toxic work environment. I witnessed what I believed to be repeated bullying, intimidation, and emotional mistreatment of staff. Employees were often afraid to speak up because many believed that voicing concerns could put their jobs at risk. I personally saw coworkers become visibly distressed, anxious, and emotionally overwhelmed due to workplace interactions. Several employees expressed concerns to HR regarding management behavior, but from my perspective, those concerns were not meaningfully addressed. Instead, many employees felt ignored or unsupported. It created an atmosphere where people kept their heads down, closed their office doors, and avoided speaking openly. I personally witnessed employees being treated unfairly and, in some cases, terminated under circumstances that did not appear to be related to job performance. In my own situation, despite never receiving disciplinary write-ups and even receiving a significant raise, I was eventually let go after raising concerns and requesting an investigation into workplace issues. I also raised concerns regarding certain business practices that made me uncomfortable. During my employment, I was asked to deliver a check to what I believed was a business address, only to arrive at a location that did not appear to match what I had expected. I was later redirected elsewhere to complete the delivery. While I cannot speak to the intent behind the situation, it contributed to broader concerns I had about transparency and compliance. There were also workplace conversations and decisions that, in my opinion, raised concerns about fair housing compliance and ethical business practices. I brought some of these issues forward internally but did not feel they were taken seriously. What was most difficult was watching good employees suffer emotionally. I saw dedicated team members experience anxiety, stress, and fear simply walking into work each day. Some employees confided in me about how deeply the work environment was affecting their mental health. No employee should have to endure that. I eventually decided I could no longer stay silent. Speaking up came with consequences, but I do not regret advocating for what I believed was right. My purpose in writing this review is not personal revenge—it is to help future applicants make an informed decision. Everyone deserves to work in an environment where they feel respected, supported, and safe. Employees deserve leaders who encourage growth, teamwork, and professionalism—not fear and intimidation. There are many hardworking people at this company, but leadership sets the tone, and in my experience, that tone was unhealthy and damaging. My advice to anyone considering employment here: do your own research. Ask questions during your interview about workplace culture, leadership support, and employee retention. Pay attention to how staff are treated. A healthy workplace matters. Your mental health matters. Your dignity at work matters. Choose a company that values its employees, listens when concerns are raised, and does not tolerate workplace bullying.