I’m an outpatient mental health therapist at a very small location and have been here since January. We have had barely any new clients and have a huge office. Even though we have no new clients they are hiring 2-3 new therapists as well as a psych doctor…currently there are only two of us as all other therapists quit…neither has full case loads or are hitting RVU’s. I don’t understand how they can afford to keep the office open and have hired all these new people to start full time around the holidays when there are no clients to see. Marketing was supposed to host events since February but haven’t done one yet. They were supposed to do community reach out but still have not. And when I see on this website they are still laying people off it confuses me? As someone who has moved for this position can anyone give me an opinion if I should move back home and resign? Or risk renewing my lease only to be laid off or told we are closing? Just looking for ideas? Thanks
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Optum is great at acquiring businessesand then condensing (laying off) talent after the business has been acquired. My guess is that they will likely consolidate the group practice locations that are in rural areas and/or locations that are not yielding revenue since we are a for-profit entity.
@OP resign .
I’m surprised you are still wondering what to do since your last post asking same. Yes it is hard to take an action however majority of the responses said “run”. Hiring of new staff means zip, zilch, nada.
If you’re hoping for someone to say it will all be good…it won’t. Next several rounds of lay offs will be bloody. Most in the know are applying to get out. And if you just started you have little to no severance
When might the next layoffs be?
As someone who was was on the receiving end of a layoff, here is my advice:
If the job is light, keep it as long as you can and do the needed tasks to keep your Managers satisfied.
Start looking for part time jobs on the side so that when the layoff happens, you can try and transition into a full time role or at least have some basic income coming in.
Optum has good severance policy, so don't quit if you you think you're going to be involved in a layoff.
Try and get insurance through all your spouse or pay for your own private insurance and opt out of the company insurance. Continuing insurance through the employer after layoff for coverage is very expensive...
Life has better plans for you regardless of what happens with the layoffs
@c4 hiring new staff means diddly. I only had my position for mere months before they decided they were getting rid of it. Not even a year and I was hired for the role and it was a new role. Don’t ever think just because there’s new roles or hires that you are safe. Ever.
The behavioral sector has not been profitable; probably not going to be good long term.
Its very strange - I am in a division with a similar issue. Staff don't have enough work to keep them busy and everyone including leadership are aware. They keep hiring more staff despite volumes being low.
Im not certain, but my guess is that optum has certain contracts that are obligated to spend money and keep FTEs filled, even in low volume markets. Im trying to find out when the joint venture I am part of is due to end -as I think that's the end of the line for us, unless they renew.
Ill be shocked if people on my team (including me) aren't part of the next layoff, but we just hired a bunch of new staff.