CPSA Launches ‘Humans of The Hill’ Social Media Campaign to Highlight Experiences, Challenges of Life as a Congressional Staffer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2023
Media Contact:
Zoe Bluffstone, CPSA Press Steward
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) launched “Humans of The Hill,” a social media storytelling campaign to share the real experiences of congressional staffers as they try to afford life working for a member of Congress. Inspired by the social media page “Humans of New York,” these posts will share photos and a quote from the perspective of a staffer talking about their experiences working on Capitol Hill and the economic realities that come alongside working these frequently underpaid and overworked positions.
The first posts went live today on Instagram and Twitter and highlights two anonymous staffers as they work or seek second jobs to cover their costs.
“The congressional staff that keep this country running are too often running on empty,” said the Steering Committee for the Congressional Progressive Staff Association. “ ‘Humans on the Hill’ is a new storytelling effort that will center the experiences of staff, in their own words, as they try to navigate persistent issues like low pay, poor working conditions, and burnout that too often plague and drive out congressional staffers. This builds off of the eye-opening awareness-building work by Dear White Staffers and CPSA’s previous Working Conditions Survey to further illustrate the continued need to improve workplace conditions. Staffers are invited to submit their stories to CPSA to be featured in the next post of Humans of the Hill and be a part of the movement to improve workplace compensation and culture in Congress.”
Post One features an anonymized staffer standing in front of the Supreme Court, and reads:
“I started working on the hill for a progressive member with a salary that was considered higher than the average. This isn’t average, this salary is below average than what it takes to live in a city like D.C. My paycheck runs out before the 10th of every month. I am stressed worrying about how I am going to afford my next meal. How will I be able to pay my bills due on the 15th of the month? I tell myself a lie saying things will get better but after three years on the hill, I am ashamed to say things are not better. I am in desperate need of a second job but I’m having a hard time getting a second job because of the demands of working on the hill. I am struggling to breathe worrying about money. My immigrant parents can’t afford to have a retirement plan and they put their daughter through college in hopes one day she will be able to take care of them. How am I supposed to take care of them when I can’t even take care of myself?”
Post Two shows a hand holding an anonymized Trader Joe's Crew Member name tag, and says:
“I started working on the hill with a relatively high salary considering what other folks in other offices were paid. Even with that, I had to live in subpar housing and eventually had to get a second job. This isn’t about demonizing my office – this is about highlighting a common struggle that so many other staffers face. We do important work in our offices, and deserve to be compensated for that work.”
Humans of the Hill will be an ongoing social media campaign run by CPSA, and staffers who want to share their stories and experiences are encouraged to submit photos and quotes. Submissions can be sent to CPSA.Info@mail.house.gov and should clearly specify whether they want to be anonymous. #HumansOnTheHill
CPSA was formed in June 2021 to amplify the voices and experiences of progressive staffers, to advocate for progressive issues impacting our membership, and to fight for fair working conditions for congressional employees. The association currently has over 1,350 members and is growing every day.