ADVO C AC Y IN AC TIO N
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No-WorkFrom-Home Policy During The Covid-19 Pandemic A N D T H E W R AT H O F C O R P O R AT E M E D I C I N E Wri t t en by A no ny mo u s
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early 8 weeks after enduring unfortunate organizational behavior, I gathered enough courage to leave a medical directorship role. My transgression? Raising concerns over the organization’s no-work-fromhome policy during the new COVID-19 pandemic. For context, I serve as a clinical director for an outpatient mental health clinic within a community healthcare organization. When I joined the organization, there were no standardized, outpatient mental health services. By leading hospital task forces, obtaining 6-figure grants and designing hospital-wide education strategies, I was closely involved 3 2 | M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 0
with creating a subspecialty clinic that would care for the mental health needs of a vulnerable population. Within a short period of time, the clinic was full. I share this not to be boastful, but to shine light on the callousness of corporate healthcare. For a long time, I noticed certain “organizational splitting behavior”. From one day to the next, administrators dangle praise and dispensability in response to complacency or dissent, respectively. Knowingly, I continued my work until a time came when our principles were just too far apart. At the beginning of March of 2020, I advised leadership of the need to expedite a telehealth solution, amid pandem-
ic warnings. I voiced personal challenges with having immunocompromised family members and limited childcare options. There was no response for a while. After the release of emergency provisions from the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) and from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I was allowed to see my patients remotely. Clinic volumes increased and our no-show rates plummeted. When I tried advocating for other mental health team members (e.g psychotherapists) to see patients remotely, I was reminded of the new no-work-from-home policy. I was educated on employee equity and asked not to speak with employees about these matters. I found out that our pa-
