Upon appointment, everything started to change drastically when it comes to people empowerment

While it is known as one of the country’s top medical facilities, St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is currently fazed with allegations of bad management and unprofessionalism of its top officials.

Some former and present employees of SLMC-BGC lamented how the institution has gone against its very own values of doing “what is professional, ethical and right” after a new management took over.

According to a source, a former employee, a high-ranking official of SLMC-BGC has been abusing authority since assuming office a few years ago.

“Upon appointment, everything started to change drastically when it comes to people empowerment. The official likes power and control,” the source revealed in an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune.

“SLMC-BGC is considered as a leading hospital in the country, but the culture of the organization is driven by back-stabbing and rumor-mongering (driven) by the (official),” the former employee added.

The source also disclosed that the official demeans female employees them during meetings.

“(The official) is unprofessional and has no ethical values…brags being the smartest and always right when it comes to any decision…looks down upon people or subordinates who are considered smart and considers them as threats,” the source shared.

Another source, currently employed with SLMC-BGC, also maintained similar sentiments toward the official.

According to the employee, it came to the point where the hospital had to let go some of their talents in leadership posts simply because the official didn’t like them.

The source further revealed that the official devised a plan to terminate the services of another official of the hospital.

“It was a very sad and scary news to all of us. It was a very strong message sent across that no one can object to (the official’s) whims, else, you will suffer the same fate. Right now, even regular staff nurses feel that they are walking on thin ice, that their job security is at stake all the time,” the employee stressed.

A third source who has also left the hospital noted how unstable the security of tenure in SLMC-BGC had been due to the highly political environment.

“One had to endure and work through a culture of gossiping, backbiting and power-tripping,” said the former SLMC-BGC personnel.

The ex-employee further disclosed how their superior was leading in the constant critiquing and bickering during execution of a project.

“This person would always point out a mistake, amplify it and ensure that you are demoralized — thinking all along that you have not done anything good for the project. The next was to have your department dissolved without question and make sure you had to transition within a week’s time to a new one, else you would find yourself displaced in the organization,” the former employee said.

“This takes a toll on your mental health and you have to deal with the effects of the aftermath,” the ex-employee added.

The three sources pointed out that the SLMC-BGC management, other than favoring its vision of “providing exceptional patient-centered care,” should likewise ensure that employees are being treated with care and consideration.

The ex-employee lamented how the new administration has been treating personnel as disposable objects — terminating employment whenever the official likes it.

“All terminations of employment were carried out under the whims of the official. Due process was observed only for technical reasons, but not for the merit of the case. So, regardless of your reasons, once (the official) gives his thumbs down, the termination of employment will be carried out,” the former employee added.

With the alleged worsening management of the premiere health facility, the former employee is now calling on the government to step in to the issue.

“The DoH (Department of Health) should look into compliance of the hospital. The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) should reverse its decision in favor of the management against the illegal termination of one of its officials. And DoLE should also zero in on the current practice of labor-only subcontracting. Nurse trainees are taken in or accommodated under the guise of trainees but were actually deployed in the operations as staff nurses,” the ex-employee said.

It was learned that some nurses of the SLMC-BGC were taken in as trainees but were forced to work under the status of being on-the-job trainees.

“This happens in ancillary as well, the trainees are being used as replacements or temporary staff for those employees on vacation or sick leaves,” the former employee claimed.

The ex-employee pointed out that the board of trustees should also evaluate the performance of the official, particularly on management practices especially when dealing with people.

“(The official) will be a reputational risk in the future,” the former employee said.

Daily Tribune tried to obtain a comment from the official to whom a letter of request for an interview was sent but has been unsuccessful as of press time.