Great Place to Work. Approach to Layoffs Left Much to be Desired - Data Analyst Optum Employee Review

3.0
30 Jul 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

While I worked at Optum I greatly enjoyed the people and projects that I was a part of. It was easy to feel like I was having an impact on improving the lives of the patients we served. I had a great work/life balance and it really felt like my immediate management cared about my personal wellbeing.

Cons

The biggest downside for me was how the company went about laying off myself and the entire team that I worked with. I left for vacation feeling good about my position in the company and how increased demand for our work might result in the team expanding in the near future. So I was shocked to get a call in the middle of my trip letting me know that my position was being eliminated and I would be getting laid off in 2 weeks. Needless to say that put a damper on the rest of my time off. The company's severance package did not do anything to make me feel better after the six years I had spent there either. Only 4 weeks of severance was definitely not enough to cover the amount of time it takes to apply for, interview with, accept, and then be screened for a new job. I had to dip pretty heavily into what little savings I had to continue to pay my bills after the severance ran out.

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Optum Response
1y
Thank you for your feedback. I’m very sorry to hear about your experience. Please know that we are actively working to provide improved job stability for our employees and empathize with those affected by layoffs. We are committed to learning from these situations and supporting all who may be impacted during these difficult times. We encourage you to reach out to your HR or People Team leader contact if you have any unresolved issues that you’d like to discuss. Again, we are sorry for the circumstances that led to your job loss. We value your time with us and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Explore other reviews about Optum

5.0
15 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great management, work life balance, atmosphere

Cons

no cons, very satisfied with my employment.

3.0
4 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some very talented people give so much of themselves to the company, the clients and their co-workers. I work with (and have worked with) some excellent, smart, supportive people.

Cons

Too many layoffs. Upper management is clueless about how the day to day work gets done, what it takes to make certain changes to processes, and how to treat employees. Some are great. Mostly, they just look at numbers. So many of us have been doing our jobs long enough to know what is needed for certain requests. But we don't get a voice. We just have to do it and suck it up. They are firing ('reduction in force') all of the seasoned staff and let the rest deal with the fall-out. So many teams are losing good people but those people are training their off-shore replacements before they are told about being cut. So how is that a reduction in force? It's just a reduction in payroll numbers. Everyone is on edge just waiting for the next axe to fall. And we have to try and learn or teach another role with less experienced people and more work. It's crazy. On milestone anniversaries, they send an email recognition but once the milestone gets to over 15 years, you are a target. Pay and benefits are fine by me. Raises are practically non-existent, even after layoffs and asking employees to take on more responsibility. that's messed up. They talk about work/life balance but that doesn't trickle down to the actual workers who are so stressed they fear for their jobs if they don't do the extra mile. Many of us are just hanging on instead of quitting so we can at least get some severance. Others are actively looking.

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