(SeaPRwire) – By: Logan Pierce
Blackstone Medical Services’ Colombian operation didn’t just face an earthquake this week—it faced a PR and ethical meltdown. The viral video of manager Jack Munoz warning workers about consequences for leaving during the disaster strips away the company’s polished PR about valuing staff. This isn’t an isolated mistake; it’s a window into how some multinationals prioritize operational continuity over human safety in offshore hubs.
On Monday, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia, killing over 200 people and leaving thousands missing. Buildings collapsed, infrastructure crumbled, and the government declared a national disaster. At Blackstone’s Medellin office, Munoz told employees: “Whoever wants to leave can leave, but if nothing happens today, you will have to answer for abandoning your post.”
The video spread like wildfire online. Users flooded Blackstone’s Google profile with negative reviews, accusing the company of mistreating staff. Former Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino called for immediate Labor Ministry intervention, noting workers who spoke out might face disciplinary action. “This cannot go unpunished,” he wrote on X.
Blackstone’s Colombian team handles clinical and administrative support for its US business—customer service, sales, logistics, and more. Offshore operations like this often cut costs by leveraging lower labor expenses, but they rarely invest enough in emergency protocols. For Blackstone, pausing operations could mean delays for US clients, so the pressure to keep staff on-site was high.
This incident isn’t just about Blackstone. It’s a wake-up call for the entire healthcare outsourcing industry. Consumers are increasingly demanding that companies treat offshore workers with the same respect as domestic staff. Regulators in countries like Colombia are starting to crack down on multinationals that cut corners on worker safety.
In the next year, expect more offshore workers to use social media to expose unsafe conditions, forcing companies to either fix their protocols or lose customers to competitors who do.
Author bio: Logan Pierce, an independent business researcher and corporate governance writer on Medium, focuses on ethical practices in global supply chains.