That’s what it’s starting to look like. Seems a little self-defeating to me, but what do I know, I’m just a measly peon, right?
10 replies (most recent on top)
It’s a dollar goal. Any way they can get there.
@et I don't think they 'target' seasoned employees. They target higher salaries and lower performers but if the list is weighted too heavily with people in a 'protected group' due to age, race, gender etc, they will pull someone from a non protected group(white male) to replace that name from a protected group on the list. That person who survived will probably get cut on some later layoff round. I've always wondered if there is a grading system or algorithm for people in a protected group.
@et Seasoned employees are usually higher on the same pay grade and cost more.
@b4 but why target seasoned employees? That's what I don't get.
It’s usually low performers. Some folks commenting are disgruntled ex employees.
@ay Management usually gets to provide names but leadership gets the final say. You can put down the lowest performer or person with the least experience and they may reassign the RIF to a seasoned high performer. In most cases it is a leader who has never interacted with the front level employee. Sometimes you also have to play the age game and balance under/over 40 year olds to make it look like you are not targeting seasoned employees. It is all a shell game and nobody wins.
@ae I'll probably get flak for this, but this has (mostly) been my experience as well, but in OT. That being said, mass layoffs never exclusively target people who are low performers and I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of hard working people get hit as well.
Nothing about what Optum does in regards to managing its workforce is optimal. The performance review system notably has a lot of flaws. And since that's how they decide layoffs, well...
@ae That may be true, but OI is getting rid of higher performers as well. We lost the most experienced high performers on our team.
@ab I am in Optum insight, and I know for a fact that they are getting rid of people who are just coasting/ don’t do anything or contribute meaningfully to the company. 🤷🏻♀️
it's to layoff the best paid people and then switch those roles and responsibilities to less paid people. hello from a fellow peon.