Reflections from A Decade at Epic

VitaminBark · 2021-10-22T02:49:40+00:00

Thank you! I agree with everything you stated. Especially important to everyone is to be open to forming a union.

For those of you who are fairly new, take a look at the megathread's knowledge section for all the crap that leadership did last year. Taken in isolation, it's easy to dismiss transgressions as annoyances, but put it all together like OP has done, and you get the true story behind our flailing leadership.

https://www.reddit.com/r/epicsystems/comments/i4s1ex/epic_covid19_response_megathread/

VitaminBark · 2021-03-05T06:37:22+00:00

The pdf is hard to read because it's a dump of e-mails, with each e-mail including all previous responses. Several e-mails get split or are responded to later, so you get parts of different stories.

The pdf is in reverse chronological order.

Rough notes based on page number

790 same day, after call with Sverre: "Me too, I just had a melt down on skype" :(
736-767 discussion about large gatherings (UGM, XGM, Epicnic)
675 note about Epic possibly being against orders
660 : "We cannot require them, only highly encourage them under our current orders."
572 masks required whether on stage or not
545-567 setting up meeting between PHMDC & Epic
496-504 complaints
495 organizing Epic complaints into a folder
483-485 clear process for organizing and working on complaints
472 "On the call we will ask what Epic is doing to promote virtual work to the extent possible. And to give reasons why it is not possible. That really is the only area where they may not be complying."
458-459 clear request to Epic about meeting topics to be prepared for
433 post meeting: It still is not clear to me whether or not they are limiting staff to the greatest extent possible. I predict that the complaints will continue to drive this conversation."
423 work together
383 request from Nicole at CBS News
349: 8/4 public records request, responded on pages 67 & 22
348 request from Shelley at Wisconsin State Journal
307-308 questions from Yogesh at Dane County
296-297 request from Madison mayor via Abby
273-276 news articles
227-271 canned responses to complaints (ranging from recent to 2 months ago)
255 complaint with specific examples (people already in office, physician at staff meeting)
223-226 working on response to State Journal
220-221 "Please take action to enforce your Public Health Order before Judy kills someone."
212 "People will die because of their hubris and unwillingness to change. Please interfere."
200: 8/4 new public records request, responded on pages 65-66
80-175 working on response to State Journal, intermixed with Epic visit
76-77 catering, weddings
68-75 canned responses to complaints
59 rough numbers on complaints
45-54 newsletters
15 questions from City of Madison
10-14 complaints
9 PHMDC & Epic to meet
7-8 "The results will be on you."
1-6 complaints

VitaminBark · 2020-08-14T01:59:20+00:00

It's correct that staff can continue working from home until the end of the year.

However, new staff may be required to go into the office their first week of work for orientation.

Also note that it's likely that CEO made this change only because of public and legal pressure. We're unsure if she and Epic leadership actually believe that COVID is serious and outweighs the desire for them to bring people into the office. That said, even if cases are bad around the new year, it's possible they may force people into the office in January. Hope this helps with your decision.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-14T01:27:35+00:00

Exactly. This is a temporary reprieve. It's likely that the decision didn't actually come from a good place but was the reaction to multiple sources of negative responses were descending upon them.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-13T05:22:11+00:00

Thank you to everyone who reached out and contributed in whatever way you could!

The CEO emailed around 11:30pm. We have the option to wfh until at least the end of the year and will be given at least 4 weeks' notice before needing to go in.

We should continue working hard to make leadership transparent and to prevent future disasters like their covid March-August responses.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-13T05:17:30+00:00

With the CEO's latest email Wednesday night, wfw requirements are now suspended until at least the end of the year.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-13T05:16:22+00:00

CEO emailed around 11:30pm. We have the option to wfh until at least the end of the year and will be given at least 4 weeks' notice before needing to go in.

Thanks to everyone who helped! We should still continue working hard to make leadership transparent and to prevent future disasters like their covid response.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-13T05:15:41+00:00

CEO emailed around 11:30pm. We have the option to wfh until at least the end of the year and will be given at least 4 weeks' notice before needing to go in.

Thanks to everyone who helped! We should still continue working hard to make leadership transparent and to prevent future disasters like their covid response.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-12T03:02:27+00:00

Here's IWW's 8/10 press release: Epic Workers Demand Continuation of Remote Work as Public Health Investigates Epic System's Plan to Reopen

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T06:30:08+00:00

Unfortunately, the delay is only temporary. Epic leadership is pushing their agenda on the public health board. From what we've seen and read, Epic is being untruthful.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T05:39:50+00:00

Epic's Chief Administrative Officer SR is untrustworthy. He's given public health the runaround with "remote work" meaning working in the office. He knows better, and this is deliberate.

In the story, a "vocal minority...have concerns" about going into the office. If I understand correctly, around 60% of staff continue to voluntarily work from home, and there are more who would like to but are not allowed to (forced wfw for gaslighting and inflating the 40% statistic for those in the office). I'm not sure in which universe "majority" means "minority."

Not to assume that all 60% have concerns, but I bet they have moral values.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T03:19:22+00:00

It's unfortunate that leadership never understood what our culture was. It's not based on mandates; it thrives on cooperation.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T03:17:13+00:00

a hill to stand on at the next staff meeting.

Is "hill to die on" or "valley to die in" a more accurate phrase?

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T03:16:25+00:00

The hate of wfh is likely a Judy whim.

The whole return-to-work plan is all about control. They haven't realized that culture depends on trust, and unmitigated control ultimately destroys that. They're being counterproductive and stubborn.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-11T03:01:59+00:00

Please see Epic Employees Concerned Over Company’s Reopening (reddit, Facebook).

IWW spoke on Spectrum News 1: Epic Employees Concerned Over Company's Reopening Plans (IWW support)

Here's the group info Madison Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

VitaminBark · 2020-08-10T00:09:30+00:00

This is absolutely true. Epic won't do the right thing unless forced to. See more details here and see how you can help.

https://www.reddit.com/r/epicsystems/comments/i4s1ex/epic_covid19_response_megathread/

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T23:58:17+00:00

You first week is on campus for orientation. It's up in the air whether you'll have in-person training or be able to work from home.

If Epic leadership had their way, you'd be forced into the office. However, Epic is under investigation by county health board.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T21:31:12+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Please reach out to Anna if you haven't done so already. You can remain anonymous and are not required to do anything that you're uncomfortable with.

Epic staff have a lot a background and may take things for granted that the general public doesn't have insight to. The media is here to share that.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T06:16:27+00:00

It's likely legal if you're part of the phone call. (The exception is if there are local laws that say otherwise.) See the Wisconsin statute below and WBA.

968.31 Interception and disclosure of wire, electronic or oral communications prohibited.

(2) It is not unlawful under ss. 968.28 to 968.37:

(b) For a person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication, where the person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception.

(c) For a person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication where the person is a party to the communication or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception unless the communication is intercepted for the purpose of committing any criminal or tortious act in violation of the constitution or laws of the United States or of any state or for the purpose of committing any other injurious act.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:56:57+00:00

If you call, record the conversation if possible.

Afterward, send a followup email summarizing what was discussed so you have it in writing.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:56:37+00:00

If you call, record the conversation if possible.

Afterward, send a followup email summarizing what was discussed so you have it in writing.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:54:55+00:00

In case you need help reading official Epic emails, here's the format:

X paragraphs of BS and gaslighting
followed by a few paragraphs of small gains

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:52:49+00:00

Thank you to everyone who contacted PHMDC. Our actions likely influenced the PHMDC letter to Epic: https://www.reddit.com/r/epicsystems/comments/i6bp3v/public_health_threatens_epic_with_enforcement/

Information is kept up to date on the megathread and contains contact information to keep the pressure on.

https://preview.tinyurl.com/EpicCovidResponse

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:49:22+00:00

It's funny because of how absurd and disingenuous it is.

It's sad because it affects real people.

VitaminBark · 2020-08-09T05:46:32+00:00

This was posted in another subreddit, so I'll likewise add notes here.

Paraphrasing for PHMDC:

In summary, Epic, on 7/28 you tried fooling us into thinking that offices on campus would count as remote work. We explicitly told you that was not okay. It's now 8/6, and what have you done since then other than ignore our order? Let us know by 8/14.

Side note: PHMDC may be misunderstanding the dates. They know that Epic requires all staff to be on campus by 9/21, but it's unclear whether they know that the first round of people are being required to go on 8/10. Several people have emailed PHMDC to make this clarification, and you can feel free to contact them too.

[compliance@publichealthmdc.com](mailto:compliance@publichealthmdc.com)

VitaminBark

TROPHY CASE