The EPO's Staff Engagement Survey 2025 is Already Tainted by Intimidation by EPO Management (Trying to Influence Outcomes by Scaring Genuine, Honest Critics)
"[W]e have received reports that, following the previous survey, teams with negative responses were reproached or questioned about their answers..."
Background about Angel Aledo Lopez (shown above):
- Angel Aledo Lopez in LinkedIn
- Tall Tales From the Land of EPOnia: Indications of High-Level Club Med/EUIPO “Entryism”
- New Letter From the European Patent Office Explains How the Office Plots to Grant Many Illegal Patents, a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of 'Growth'
- Vice President of the European Patent Office (EPO) Complains That Techrights Gives Visibility to Legal and Technical Issues at the EPO
- European Patent Office Illegally Gutting and Outsourcing Its Functions, Acting Like an Above-the-Law Commercial Business (It Won't Stop at Formalities Officers (FOs) and Classification Slop at the EPO)
Following yesterday's teaser ("Angel Aledo Lopez the Manipulator (Nepotism, Poll Rigging, and Other EPO Corruption)"), which implicated those who had entered the EPO via nepotism instead of actual qualifications (under Benoît Battistelli and António Campinos nepotism became the norm; people were receiving top jobs for kinship and perceived loyalty, not real recruitment processes or genuine competition) we want to present this week's communication from the Central Staff Committee (CSC) of the EPO.
Quoting the short version:
Staff Engagement Survey 2025: Concerns about undue interference by management
The Central Staff Committee (CSC) has addressed an open letter to the COO following reports that some teams in Dir. 1218 are holding “preparatory meetings” ahead of the upcoming Staff Engagement Survey (13–27 October).
The CSC considers such meetings inappropriate, as they risk creating an atmosphere of pressure or influence and could compromise the integrity of the survey results.
The letter recalls that the survey should capture the genuine and unprompted views of staff. It also refers to past instances where teams with critical feedback were reportedly reproached or questioned, sending the wrong message that criticism is unwelcome.
The CSC therefore calls for:
the immediate discontinuation of preparatory meetings,
a reminder that participation is voluntary and confidential, and
assurances that no team or individual will be criticised or penalised for their responses.
A meaningful survey requires trust, openness, and respect for differing opinions.
Here's the formal letter sent (with polite language; not that the recipient deserves polite words):
European Patent Office
80298 Munich
GermanyCentral Staff Committee
Comité central du personnel
Zentraler PersonalausschusscentralSTCOM@epo.org
Reference: sc25061cl
Date: 09/10/2025
European Patent Office | 80298 MUNICH | GERMANY
To: Mr Angel Aledo Lopez (Chief Operating Officer)By email:
To: coo@epo.orgOPEN LETTER
Concern Regarding “Preparatory Meetings” Ahead of the Staff Engagement Survey/
Dear Chief Operating Officer,
Dear Angel,We have been informed that in some teams of Dir. 1218 preparatory meetings are taking place to “explain” the upcoming Staff Engagement Survey (13–27 October).
We consider such meetings inappropriate. They create the impression of intimidatory action and risk compromising the integrity of the survey results. The Staff Engagement Survey should reflect the genuine and unprompted views of staff, not those influenced by managerial guidance or pressure in the days before completion.
We are particularly concerned because we understand that some of these meetings are being held in teams that gave critical feedback during the last survey. This gives the unfortunate impression that management is trying to steer or control the outcome.
Moreover, we have received reports that, following the previous survey, teams with negative responses were reproached or questioned about their answers. This sends a damaging message: that criticism is unwelcome and that expressing dissatisfaction could have negative consequences. Such an atmosphere discourages honest feedback — the very purpose of the survey.
We therefore request that all “preparatory meetings” related to the Staff Engagement Survey be immediately discontinued and that management clearly communicate to all staff and line managers that:
• participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential,
• staff are free to express their views without fear of reprisal, and
• no team or individual should be questioned or criticised based on survey results.
A genuine staff engagement survey can only be meaningful if it is conducted in a climate of trust, openness, and respect for differing opinions.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely yours,
Derek Kelly
Chairman of the Central Staff Committee
What we have right now, at the very least in Europe's monopolised office for monopolies (patents), is a dictatorship that routinely breaks the law and then demands that staff pretends to be happy. Not only that; the dictatorship demands that the staff grants European software patents - i.e. patents which are both illegal and undesirable. Staff is dictated and frowned upon; it must participate in the attacks on Europe, at the behest of (typically) American corporations.
At this stage it'll be hard to sell Europe as less corrupt than Putin's Russia at least in the domain of patent law. It's not limited to the EPO; this same network of nepotism has spread to the EU, which includes Angel Aledo Lopez (his career roots).
As a pro-EU person, this deeply saddens me. █