To Ya’ll, hawking the board that know in advance that 100’s off people will get cut. Posting how much anguish this is , the stress. All to protect that mighty severance dollar. All that bad energy and wishes that will be cosmically hurled at you for everyone you hurt. No escaping that fact. No where to hide from that. There is a such thing as right from wrong , and that applies at work too. Keeping secrets that affect so many families, you didn’t “have” to , but you did. No one affected will see, but you’re in for a lot of dark days.
11 replies (most recent on top)
I am also a manager and had no idea at all until the morning of 12/3. Not all managers are 'the enemy '. Many of us care about and advocate for our staff, and are working hard to support our families like anyone else. I understand the anger but please direct it to those who made these decisions (I guarantee it wasn't managers, at least not for my clinical department at Optum).
I am a manager and did not know!
“Can you take a step back and appreciate what Optum has given back to you??!” Are you slow?? What OPTUM has given back to us? We worked for them. You’re right this was our choice of employment but if you work hard and bust your a– for a company and they are profiting off your labor laying you off is BS. Yes I get company’s do it, but there was a time companies did everything they could to protect their employees including not taking bonuses themselves for that year. People used to be able to retire having worked for a company for decades. So please take your HR working a– back to work. Clearly you just wanted to add your legal and much unneeded spin when it’s not wanted.
As a person who has been at Optum for over 12 years, every year around October, there have been layoffs. Some years it has been one round, other years, it has been multiple rounds.
Anyone who works for Oputm, must realize layoffs are part of the company culture, centered around profits and shareholders. This is the nature of a publicly traded companies. Every year, I have held my breath waiting for the axe to fall, and somehow, I've made it through each round. Working here, my expectation is, I will be laid off at some point. It is inevitable, unless I chose to leave first.
I understand being upset about being laid off, but if Optum is your CHOICE of employment, then along with the upside, the downside comes with it. Use this laid off opportunity to make yourself better, smarter and your next employment opportunity more enlightened. Optum is a powerful name on a resume, and your experience will assist you on your next adventure.
Having said all that, I do believe Optum does not live by it's core values and seeks the almighty dollar over people, but you should of known that before you accepted your position. This site, fieldglass and other forums certainly display the history of the company. Optum is a for profit company and publicly traded. It is the nature of the beast.
Can you take a step back and appreciate what Optum as given back to you?
There’s your reality check people. All you random employees. Check your mission and values. Re read original post on how that “tracks”.
Managers knew. It’s clear looking back at things now. I get why they didn’t say anything but don’t lie by saying you didn’t know.
So lemme get this straight... you expect your manager to commit a term-able offense to warn you of your impending layoff... and risk their livelihood? How does that track? I 100% understand this is emotional and personal for you- but you are asking that someone risk their financial fitness for you? A random employee...
If you are morally opposed to layoffs, don't work for a place where its prevalent. This happens every year. I have no clue why this year people are shocked...
I would never risk my financial future because I catch feelings that someone is being let go, legally, whether I like it or not.
This is 100% false I am a manager and had no clue and found out as my team did
Amen.
This is exactly why I decided to part ways and give my notice yesterday. I will not ruin people’s lives, one day it would have been myself on that same list. I wish everyone the best.
Yes I agree. So basically anyone in the know in mgmt (which is basically anyone doing reviews) who doesn’t warn folks this year (it has been going on for years now) who has integrity would either choose to warn and inform those about to face bad news AND/OR would actually be quitting and leaving to create a vacuum in their role to show toxic culture won’t be tolerated. What is sad is mgmt asking for sympathy. If you feel bad at the shock that it’s not the company you thought it was, I understand that initial sadness and grief. But once you know the truth, how can you expect people facing or experiencing layoffs to empathize with you continuing week after week to choose your own self/neck and protecting your severance over others? To stay means you are actually part of perpetuating the evil. Stand for truth and doing the right thing or be of integrity and take a stand by walking away. Wishing all here good vibes and calm, and wishing to those who have chosen poorly up to this point that they make a turn for the right path, and May the force be with you......