I need to check in with other managers here because I'm hitting a wall and getting seriously worried.
It feels like so many tech teams across the board - UHC Tech, ETIPS, CDO, CE, OG, OI etx are completely stepping on each other's toes. We’re all scrambling to find unique problems to solve, but the truth is, someone else has usually already done it. Everyone is just trying to look busy. It's becoming a toxic rat race wrapped as evolution and exciting advancement.
AI has made this so much worse, so fast. What used to take us months of architecture and building now gets wrapped up in days. Because of that sudden speed, I haven't had any real, substantive work for my team of six for several months now. Just minor fixes and changes here and there.
Now, our funding is being questioned. At this rate, looking ahead to 2027, I don't see how we survive the next budget cycle. I am genuinely terrified for my team and their jobs.
How long can a company sustain this kind of overlap? Are any other managers seeing this cliff approaching, and how are you keeping your people safe?
16 replies (most recent on top)
@d0 Polish up that resume and start looking elsewhere. Might take time to find something but it will help you not feel stuck in that toxic mess.
@fm Yes this is an open secret! And even many of the AI products are supported by an increasing offshore team. Americans have become the minority on my team.
If you are an application team and not tied to an Optum AI product, you are likely on the dwindling list of applications that will be sunet still in 2026.
I enjoyed my job and my team at Optum. I performed well and was still let go. I still miss my job but know things have gotten so much worse since I left. It was painful to get let go and struggle to find a new job. Still, I'm grateful I'm on the other side of the fence and not still waiting to get RIFed.
You cannot thrive in an environment where you are waiting to get cut every month. First it was my second line manager, then my peers, then my manager's peers. I was not surprised when it was my turn.
@fb the company will not survive if they keep this up. Trust me! They need PEOPLE. Hope they don’t realize it when it’s too late. Now is the time to change course!
To everyone here, don’t be terrified, the group I was in was sunsetted, we were all let go. Guess what, life goes on. Something good will come. This company is terrible and if they let you go, count it as a blessing, take time to heal then get back on there and search for something better. God bless! ☮️🙏🏼
@ak made up
@OP It's crazy for sure. The company will survive it without a doubt, the people won't though I'm afraid.
I'm terrified OF my team. The toxic environment from above has turned everyone into backstabbers. Dog eat dog.
@b0 hard to believe people in India gets bonuses /RSU n USD terms, amount almost equal to their annual salary.. amd more than onshore ....can someone fact check this please?
@ax for each person USD $17K. At 29.
For 30 and above got more than 17K, it's written in their job offers.
@ak wait a min..17k stock allocation for a team of how many? Your know 17k USD in India is a LOT of money it's more thelan entire years salary for a gl 27-28 . Rent of a fancy apartment in Bengaluru is 300 USD. DO the math how much 17k is .it's like getting a 300k allowed by US COLA standards.
@aa you need to learn to qualify your sentences 😂 1% reduced in the good ole USA. India they had 20% raises, bonuses and stock allocation of $17k at least for the teams I worked with.
So true. We brought a bunch of folks into OI from UHC only to have job roles pooled and have work shipped to India. More of the same to come in 2026.
@a1 Sadly, the company that cut compensation by 1% at the beginning of 2026 (via a reduced 401K "match") and required many workers to RTO even if all of their teammates are in India is not going to share the wealth from AI efficiencies with employees.
@OP it's the same everywhere UHG wide. One solution is to give back to employees some of the savings/benefits of AI by having 4 days work week so they can be required "10x" during week and recover and do other chores with an extra day off. This will also stabilize the lack of work by increasing the relative workload by 20% during the workweek. This will boost morale, mental health, quality and retain talent that's abandoning the ship. They are already successfully implementing 3 day weekends in Europe with no productivity loss.