Kelky Rudnicki, who was Mylan’s spokeswoman for two years, just resigned her position in response to the “price gouging of EpiPens” (her words).
In a letter posted on Robyn O’Brien’s website, Rudnicki explains her reasoning for quitting her job. She writes:
As I previously mentioned in an email earlier this week, I must address the serious accusations Mylan is facing in the news. I have kept silent about my position until this email to you now, because I wanted to gather my own data and weigh against my responsibility to advocate as a spokeswoman for Mylan Speciality. However, my primary responsibility is to the food allergy community. Since the day I started my blog many years ago, my sole focus was to be a voice, their voice, and to educate and advocate for my food allergic son, and children like him all over the country. Given the recent allegations over Mylan’s price gouging of EpiPens and unbalanced executive level compensation, I simply cannot align my name with yours on this, and am deeply disappointed in the lack of transparency, especially to your consumers. Saying nothing is irresponsible and unacceptable. Truth in this matter and taking corrective measures is the only solution. And the millions of people who are affected by this deserve a solution immediately.
To keep reading, click here: EpiPen Maker Mylan Loses its Spokeswoman
I quit my recruitment job in the insurance industry when my boss asked my to recruit unethically so that I could hit my numbers and he would look better. Luckily, I had an offer at a different organization one week after I was asked to do this.
I left my last job because I was asked to do something unethical, but more than that, once I stood my ground and (politely, professionally) refused, I realized that it wasn’t just the one manager that wanted me to put my job in jeopardy in order to please him– the corruption went much much deeper in the organization. It felt like a lose-lose battle. Even if I did the “right” thing, I was still a wreck not knowing how it would come back to bite me later. I was terrified– having worked in recruiting for some time I knew it was a gamble to leave a job without having a new position lined up. Luckily, I had the cash saved up to focus on a job hunt. I received 2 job offers before accepting one that I felt was aligned well with the trajectory I wanted to continue on. I’m excited about the next chapter of my life and hope that I will never be in a position like this again!
I applaud Robyn’s choice to leave her employer for what she perceives is a lack of ethics. My large organization lost its moral compass a few years ago and chooses to run itself with a lack of ethics, morality, or integrity required of its leadership. I publicly called out my employer and they said they don’t care whether the action they took was illegal. I have gone to the enforcement entities and its a dead end. I suppose this would matter if I didn’t see it everywhere I turn from federal to local government, from private to public sectors. Sad…
The simple answer is yes. Not easy, but simple.
I friend of mine was fired from a Fortune 50 company because they demanded that he violate Federal Law.
Not only did he get the firing overturned, the company is now under investigation and hopefully people will go to jail.
Edmund Burke said; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
That is a lesson we all need to stand up for….even though the cost can be high. Otherwise, the consequences are too awful to contemplate
Way to quit like a boss, hope she flipped a few tables on the way out. Also just FYI the “cost” of the EpiPen is almost entirely based around the auto-injector (and apparently executive bonuses) which hasn’t changed much mechanically in the last few years (why should it? it works). In theory you could fill a syringe with a dose for less than $10 and self-administer.
In reality you can’t self-administer in the middle of anaphylatic shock and you don’t want to gamble that whomever is around you won’t freak out at seeing a needle. I really hope Mylan gets worked over by federal regulators.
If my company was unethical, but my boss and his/her boss were ethical, then I could stay with the company.
If I felt I had to leave, then I wouldn’t write a scorched earth letter like Rudnicki did. By doing so, she’s likely poisoning her own well. Would a future employer want to take the risk of hiring a person with a history of public controversy? Probably not.