Extremely toxic environment, terrible manager, awful stack - Data Scientist Optum Employee Review

1.0
Nov 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work from home. Average pay.

Cons

I used to work for the Postpay Payment Integrity data science team. The manager (director) was extremely incapable and toxic. Non-stop stalking on employees' personal lives and threatening if you do not follow nonsense instructions. They straight up refused any feedback that could improve their products, which had originally been built with the data science knowledge level of high schooler. The technology stack is also awfully outdated. I'd stay away at all cost.

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Optum Response
2y
Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Your comments will help us to assess our processes regarding management practices and work environments and make any necessary adjustments for improvement.

Explore other reviews about Optum

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great management, work life balance, atmosphere

Cons

no cons, very satisfied with my employment.

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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