I started at Epic Systems 8 years ago as a translator, excited for the opportunity to work with a company that was supposed to lead the way in healthcare software. Sadly, my experience has been frustrating, and it's clear that the company's priorities don't align with the reality of its employees in the localization division.
From the start, I was shocked by the management in the localization division. The so-called "managers" had zero people management experience and didn't understand even the basics of localization. Fundamental principles were completely ignored, and mistakes that had been solved decades ago by other companies continued to happen at Epic. Instead of listening to advice from experienced translators, we were constantly fed meaningless platitudes like, "Epic is a different kind of company." This attitude created a disconnect between employees and management that only worsened over time.
One of the worst experiences came when the first German-speaking customer in Switzerland received an untested language pack. The result? The customer was presented with empty pages and buttons without labels. Understandably, they were shocked and on the verge of canceling the entire contract. It was a disaster, and the fact that this was allowed to happen in the first place is unforgivable.
There was also a two-month period where no one could translate anything because Epic was transitioning from yearly releases to quarterly ones, but the localization team had made no plans to accommodate the shift. This, coupled with the fact that machine translation was handed off to developers without localization experience, made the whole process even more chaotic. Eventually, I was tasked with fixing the mess. While I succeeded in training excellent models for all out languages, this led to jealousy and hostility from the management team, who resented the success I achieved.
Training opportunities were non-existent for translators. The so-called "training" was mostly focused on Epic software and immersion trips, which rarely helped improve our actual translation skills. When it came to raises and bonuses, there was no transparency or consistency. In 8 years, I never understood the rationale behind any of the raises or bonuses I received. The process seemed completely arbitrary.
The culture in the localization division was toxic, driven by jealousy and competition. There was endless, pointless chatter about raises, bonuses, and stocks. Unfortunately, translators were stuck in the Quality Management division, which meant consistently low raises and bonuses. Upper management didn't care about localization; we were just a burden to them.
Epic's apparent plan to automate translation has only made things worse. They began with machine translation and are now pushing for AI-driven solutions, which is a clear sign that they intend to eliminate as many translators as possible in the coming years. It’s concerning, especially since I don’t see a future for translators in the company.
One of the most disturbing moments came when I had to take FMLA for myself and my mother. Rather than showing support, the team leads became hostile and worked behind the scenes to push me out. I was forced to set an end date for my leave or risk being fired. The fact that a healthcare company would treat an employee like this while not respecting FMLA rights is beyond disappointing.
Lastly, the CEO’s leadership style is troubling. She seems more interested in maintaining control and being admired by employees than in actually leading the company. Staff meetings are a constant cycle of propaganda and self-promotion, and it's hard not to feel like we're being brainwashed.
In summary, my experience at Epic was disappointing. From poor management to a toxic culture and lack of respect for employees, it's clear that Epic is not the company it claims to be. If you're considering working here, especially in localization, be prepared for frustration and little to no support.