Thread regarding Centene Corp. layoffs

Not planning on taking it. Job market su-ks, I like my boss, having to starting over with PTO time, being vested, earning faith and respect from boss. Then being at a new place that might have layoffs next year and I haven't built up any years for a decent severance.

Hope i am making the right decision. I will be pi---d if I lose out on the extra 4 weeks and I am a part of 1 and 2 wave of cuts.

@bf agree. Why take it. If I get a job sooner I’m outta here. Thanks Trump.

I have decided to take it. Centene does not care about their employees, we are only a number to them. Loyalty to this company means nothing. I have physically been sick because of this. I have not liked my job in quite a few years and after I crunched the numbers, I should be ok. I am tired of the unknown and think it is time for a change.

Strap in! I've seen multiple people say how much better their lives got after either quitting or being laid off from Centene. My team lost someone to promotion and that role was not back filled. They keep asking us to do "more with less" and I've been here for 8 years and earned two promotions so no, I don't think I deserve to have every second of my day micromanaged by a manager that doesn't even know how to do the work! I live in a small town and tried for the better part of a decade to get on at Centene but I'm DONE. Severaican hold my family over until I can finish a degree and move on to greener pastures. I wish everyone the best of luck, but if you think it's bad NOW? It's going to get so much worse after that August reorg and I wouldn't hold my breath on a raise for the next few years either.

Great question! I'm 99% sure I'm applying for the VSP. A lot of people on my team think we won't have any layoffs, and if that's true, great—my application will simply be denied. No harm, no foul.

But if there are layoffs, I'd rather have my name in the VSP pool. If my application is accepted, I'll receive a more extensive package than if I had waited and been laid off later. For me, applying keeps my options open while protecting me if things don't go the way we hope.

@bj Hey there!! Thanks for the info. Could you guide me to where I may read about this, when you get a chance? I appreciate it!

@bj WOW now that’s a great thing to consider. !

Be prepared if you take it. Separation Date could be September 1, but you won’t get the payout until the Revocation Period is over and the next regular paycheck. Could be October 23.

I'm not taking it. Been here a long time and it's basically worth 6 months. But getting a new job would take longer than that. For me, it boils down to guaranteed unemployment vs. ~10% chance of layoff.

My previous company had layoffs like this about once a year -- it was stressful, but also got me a little used to the process. People in this forum act like VSP and RIF = everyone losing their job, but it's probably more like 10-15%. That's huge and hard if you're unlucky. But it's also a 85% chance of still being employed. And that risk is always hanging over us - it's just different this time because they gave advanced notice and now we're all anxious about it for 6 weeks.

With all that the Orange Clown has done to hurt our industry, this has been coming since Nov. 2024. Hoping that things will at least stabilize after the midterms.

I am taking it and really hope I don’t get denied. This whole process has stressed me out to the point of being physically and emotionally exhausted

I’ve decided I’m going to take it. I love my job but things are moving at a pace that is too fast for me to keep up with. I was on the fence mostly out of fear around how long it may take to find another job but I just have to trust that everything will work itself out. It always does. I figure I could use the money to pay off some debt (car/credit cards), making it easier to accept a lower paying job if I need to. Either way, I’m at peace with my decision.

I was a hard NO until today. After talking it over with PL's, them letting my know the direction of my dept, it only makes sense for me to take it. If I don't, I will be one of the next to go after the VSP.

@a5 1000% with you. Exactly how I feel right now too. To people who aren’t going through this or haven’t, it doesn’t make sense to volunteer to quit your job, but I feel like a shell of myself at this point. Healthier by getting out of healthcare.

i signed the VSP yesterday and in under 24 hours i withdrew from it. i chickened out 🥲

We crunched the #s a ton of different ways, assessed our finances, talked to financial advisors and we'll be ok with the severance. Advisors have said my VSP is generous (due to my tenure more than anything) and there's no guarantee a layoff severance will be as generous. I'm tired and ready to go onto the next chapter. This is a sign that it's time. I cannot even remember the last time HN/Centene offered a VSP. These are unusual times.

@a8
I wish I could take it and leave this place but I can’t volunteer to be unemployed as a single person.

@ak you brave heart 😂

Not taking it, if I leave tomorrow no one can really keep up with the amount of reports needed to be done.

I'm doing the VSP because healthcare isnt it anymore.....I work in claims and all they want is crank out more and more claims everyday...team meetings are cancelled due to getting more work out...team meeting use to be fun break where everyone could have a min to chill and relax...not anymore.

@a3 agree with your comment 1000%

I would love to take this VSP offer but can’t. I can’t volunteer to be unemployed. Especially in this job market. Plus the money will be taxed at 40% or higher and that does not leave much to live on until I find another job which will take months. In the meantime my resume is updated and I am looking. I’m sick of worrying about these constant layoffs.

Tired of having a layoff looming every month. It’s been this way for my entire 7 years. What a horrible way to manage people. I’m in tech so between AI and moving to the Cloud the end is nigh.

I'm a high performer on a team of low performers.

I do not wish to take on extra work to compensate for other people's inability or refusal to do their jobs. my PL makes excuses for them and I'm over it.

"well they don't know how to do xyz..." and why TF is that my problem?

I had to learn how to do xyz, they can learn too. my PL enables poor behavior and work habits and then wonders why this team is in the state it's in.

I look forward to putting in my two weeks when my VSP application is denied. I do not need the stress of this bullsh-t.

I think I can be a better version of myself without this environment. Working here so long is like a chronic disease. The habits to survive are now coming to roost. I can’t seem to treat it myself, so the VSP is my pill for recovery.

NY employee here - I took on the workload of 2 additional people when they were laid off in 2023. I only came on board with the company in August 2022. I am highly considering taking the VSP. The workload has become unbearable at this point for the salary I am being paid. Management has not fought for a promotion for me or higher salary in those 4 years even getting certificate after certificate and another degree to show I want to grow with the company. It’s honestly left a bad taste in my mouth. Since I don’t have a company cell phone, I have had to pay for a second line on my personal cell phone to create a boundary with my boss at work. I turn that line on at my start time and off when my work day concludes. I feel like I have become the human punching bag at this point.

Guaranteed windfall vs. nothing.

If not squandered, it can be used/invested for so many things, so many options.

If passed up, that amount of $ all at once may never come your way again.

Next layoffs might not offer as much or any severance.
Could be fired for phony performance issues, so wouldn't even get unemployment $.

It really depends on your situation and how you've prepared yourself so far for this opportunity, and weighing out options that only you know what risks are involved. Don't overthink it. Consider jumping on it, because you might not ever get another chance for something like this. Better to go for it, than regret not doing so. But be smart about next steps!

I just wanna take a break from corporate life and pause to travel for a few months until i figure out my next move.
Also im in school and a 9-5 Monday to Friday job wont work once i start practicums.