A company built on outsourcing and neglect - Senior Software Engineer Optum Employee Review

1.0
Sep 10, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You’ll quickly learn how to operate in chaos. Some colleagues do their best despite impossible conditions.

Cons

Outsourcing dominates the business model. Well over half the workforce is contracted, which creates communication breakdowns and puts unqualified people in charge of critical programs. Management shows no interest in employees or customers. The priority is cutting costs, even if it destroys morale and product quality. Healthcare benefits are shockingly poor, especially given the industry. It feels like an afterthought rather than a benefit. The culture is toxic — gatekeeping and silos make collaboration nearly impossible. Job security is non-existent. If they can outsource your role, they will, and layoffs are frequent.

Explore other reviews about Optum

5.0
Apr 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Large company that provides great benefits and support career growth. Company culture supports work life balance.

Cons

Constant shift to hire contractors and offshore roles, which have caused lay offs.

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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