Did my best work, but just ended up flamed out - Senior Director, Marketing and Communications Optum Employee Review

3.0
Sep 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun work teams across each group I was with over the years. I did have opportunities to grow with the company in the beginning, and did do some amazing work. Nice HQ building.

Cons

Once they started to grow faster (14k to 250k+ in about 2016) things were chaotic. It was like there were all these CEOs (i.e. egos) but no one could make a decision. Layoffs happen at least 3x a year, but usually just before the 3rd quarter to hit revenue targets by year-end for exec. bonuses. Then, people are rehired in Q1 & Q2--not the same people, but cheaper ones. Sad, but true.

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Optum Response
2y
Thank you for your feedback. Please know that we are committed to providing job stability for our employees and are actively working towards avoiding any unnecessary layoffs.

Explore other reviews about Optum

5.0
Jan 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of benefits, lots of incredibly smart team members, rewarding work

Cons

Large organization that moves slowly, lots of processes that need to be refreshed

1
3.0
Jun 4, 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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