Thread regarding Optum layoffs

Totally agree. We need to be very appreciative of having a job and health care benefits with the job because in this bad pandemic so many are unemployed. It's a horror show and will only get worse. I told my boss how grateful I am to work and for the work, deeply appreciate everything that they gave my family and more and am safe during this horrendous pandemic

SG29/5/moderate bonus/ 2% increase. I feel incredibly lucky to be employed in an industry where I can telecommute safely, still feed my family, and remain working with benefits. I know the increase is well below inflation, and yet I am employed which is more than many can say during this pandemic. My family continues to prosper, and I am grateful.

"Level 28, 5 rating/ 2.5% merit/11k bonus. I was satisfied and it was earned."

Translation: I got superb ratings, a 1.3% increase (minus inflation), and a ~5.5K bonus (after taxes/net).

I was happy to be Stockholm syndromed.

Level 28, 5 rating/ 2.5% merit/11k bonus. I was satisfied and it was earned.

Without an employment contract, this is what happens. Only in the us empire, corporate slaves who are employees at WILL/WHIM. We're all corporate slaves with very few rights.

That's what happens with no employment agreement nor employment contract. Employment at whim-will. a usa thing. slavery corporate style.

Grade 29. 4, 3k bonus, 0.75% "raise" -not even keeping up with INFLATION!!

Grade 28 - no bonus or raise - 3 rating

GL 28- 4 rating - 5k bonus - 1% raise

I am so disgusted. When asked why my rating dropped and what actionable goals will be put into place so I can return to where I have been rated the last TEN years, nadda. No feedback. Just not a five.

GL 30. 1.7% and 25k

They hire in Ireland bc the tax base is low and competitive compared to the heinous us empire. Maybe that corporation can spend more money on wall posters, corporate cringe, christmas party dancing videos, propaganda mission statements, etc.etc..that's where your "raise" went.

Surprised to hear the 30's getting screwed over. They can do that cause there are so few opportunities to go to at 31 and forget about a 32. That is invite only. I guess most will have to leave the company but hopefully to a better paying industry.

Interesting that no one is mentioning the push to hire in Ireland; or the fact that UHC misrepresents the location of the new whiny CEO who does NOT live in the US; but rather the UK. no one will convince me that the link between the Ireland push and Witty is not intentional. all of those citizens who bought UHC Medicare Advantage - thank you - for sending our jobs overseas. Where they do NOT care about us as employees, or our members. It is BS

GL 29 / 4 / 1.5%.

Had a "30"-no raise.

Because they can give you no raise. There's no (except race, ethnicity, national origin, gender) employment contracts nor laws to protect employees in the us empire, They can do whatever they want to you–employment at whim/will.

It's sad to see the continued brainwashing of US employees bragging abt their own exploitation.

Gl 30, Average marks over 5 year period was 4's. This year 3's no raise, no bonus.

Do you believe in the stock market bubble? What drives profit margins? If you have stock sell it.

American jobs are going off shore to cut the cost of people resources and reduce their tax burden to the United States.

I had mostly 4s on mine and got exactly 1% so the 1% being thrown out there appears to be accurate and across the board.

LOL regarding whcitty, we got corporate buck dancers who appear appreciative and very happy that they approx 1% "raises" after billions and billions in profit off of the sick and the infirm. sleep well

Page 4 from the UHG 4th quarter and full year results financial statement: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/viewer.html?file=/content/dam/UHG/PDF/investors/2020/UNH-Q4-2020-Release.pdf

Optum 2019 Profit: $9.4 billion, 8.3% margin
Optum 2020 Profit: $10 billion, 7.4% margin

Verdict: Optum made $10 billion profit in an industry that is largely volume-driven, yet we still managed to have a $10 billion profit despite the pandemic massively inhibiting that volume. Good for us. Yeah, the margin went down but I'm going to go ahead and point out the numerous useless billion-dollar acquisitions that affected that margin so don't bother.

Meanwhile, I was a 4 and got a 1% raise. Nice. It's pretty laughable. I would hate to see what compensation would look like in actual financially 'bad' years. Do you think upper management and execs are seeing those kinds of numbers? No way. I'm typically OK with the game being like that, but 1% is just insulting. Moreover, do we get big bonuses and raises in 'good' years? No. (What is a good year anyway, if not $10 billion in profit and 7% margin in a bloated industry like insurance?)

Lastly – what's also hilarious is the promotion of Andrew Witty. Jesus. Andrew Witty, the Optum CEO, goes on a 9 month leave of absence to 'help' the WHO with a covid-19 vaccine. Last time I checked, the WHO doesn't have a vaccine and shows its incompetence for the 1 thing they should be knocking out of the park. So, he was an absent CEO and was useless in his 'help', but he is rewarded with a promotion to UHG CEO. Wild. I'm not even mad, I'm impressed! Something very fishy though!

Depending on your location your housing costs and property tax increases will far outweigh the 1.4% inflation. The stimulus money print will work its way into all aspects of society in terms of inflation. Gas is already risen quite a bit. Good luck if you are still renting and are looking to buy a home.

even if inflation was "only" 1.4%, all that person got with "5s" in their report card, was 1.85% "raise"–that's insulting. Perhaps, it's Stockholme syndrome to feel that it 's great and good, and you're feeling "appreciated".....just wait until reality comes knocking. As a sci fi author once said– reality is that which, even after you stop believing it, still exists.

The "all items" inflation rate for the 12-month trailing period for January 2021 was 1.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, whomever got a raise in excess of this may see their buying power increase in 2021. For the record, I'm a retiree from UHG and not some Human Capital hack.

Wait. An employee got a 3.25% "raise" and they think that's good? That's keeping up with yearly inflation. It's not a raise. They're basically giving you the same money for buying power in 2021. Yet, you may appear excited for "busting your rearend" and doing above and beyond—why? You got no raise. Just a cost of living adjustment. You can downclick reality all ya want. Facts are facts. Downclick facts.

Tina-"3.25% merit & a 5 overall."

COLA/cost of living inflation runs @2-3% each year. So you got a 0.25% raise. Great. Definitely "take it"

Lotta corporate simps will take anything bc many were empty. It was sad. Because one's life is finite and perhaps hamster wheeling for corporations for 3% is what makes a "life"

Shouldn't have a problem if you go in and get your job done everyday. I bust my a– and not just the bare minimum like everyone else. 3.25% merit & a 5 overall. There are still plenty of people that do barely anything and get paid more than me. But, I'll take it.

They keep moving the carrot, changing the goals, goal posts, promises of "working hard" work harder, try harder, maybe, someday, perhaps, maybe, etc.etc. it's a vestige from healthcare partner, duhvita, nonsense and typical american manipulations. promise alot, play games with bonuses, change bonuses, tiny raises, "bad economy rhetoric", etc.etc.. games. Nonstop.

Please, make sure everything is in writing in that corporation. And do bare minimum, then leave.

“They do not have to take into consideration any input from direct supervisors even if they could not even tell you what the employees have done for the year and who should stand out.”

Absolutely correct. They didn’t even want to hear it. When I negotiated salary for a new position it was X with X amount of bonus. I argued bonus wasn’t a guarantee as my experience with UHC/Optum is they get you in the door with big promises of bonus and “if you work hard!” But they keep moving the carrot. Or give an excuse on why you can’t get a bonus. Then they have record profits YOY. Tell me again why my staff who is mandated to work 50 hour weeks due to previous years of incompetence and poor operations management now gets $300 as an annual bonus and a 1% merit if that? How is this fair??
New company- bonus that they promised is the bonus I’m getting. I was shocked. Thought maybe this is a good year and it isn’t the norm? And started asking some questions and nope. Every year. What they were promised is what they get.

What I suggest if you are curious what is out there if you are on linked in open up your profile to recruiters and change status that you are looking. You can block current employer from seeing that info. I got several messages in a couple of days and that is how I found my current employer. It also helps when looking at other companies to see how many people worked at UHC/Optum now work over there. Usually if it is high, it can be an indicator you will do well and transition easier.

Oh and one other thing- if you work your butt off all year and never hear anything negative on your performance and then some rogue things shows up on your that you never had a previous conversation about with your manager ever.... that is also not normal. Anything on your that is negative should never be a surprise. Ever. Manipulation. Try harder. Maybe next year you can get a higher RRP.... You can’t on your own efforts the spreadsheet won’t allow it. Don’t k–l your sled for this place. They aren’t worth it.

Customer Office: Overall 4, with 1.66%. I won't complain about the 'bonus' because I know some people didn't get anything. 13 years here and still a 27. 50-60 hr weeks - considered a SME and 'valuable asset' to the team, but others who only work maybe 4 hrs of the day are getting paid more, and clearly do way less.

Just over 1% raise and a 25% drop in bonus over last year. Same overall score as last year. Total horse sh**.

Why don't US employees have employment rights and employment contracts/agreements like every other country?

Yel84's comments below are absolutely correct. You have to jump through major hoops to allow a 5 and then the difference is really pretty minimal as far as an upgrade. You may get 3% instead of 1.75% in a good year. The pay for performance is a joke and an outright lie for any VP and below positions when coming into the company. Current workers know the drill and expectation. Leadership will actively tell Directors and Managers to change ratings or have a certain amount of 3's, 4's and do not rate anyone a 5. They will actively take back bonus money from certain groups and give to others within the hierarchy if it suits them. They do not have to take into consideration any input from direct supervisors even if they could not even tell you what the employees have done for the year and who should stand out.

Averaged 60-70 hours per week last year to meet regulatory audit requirements and overall rating of 3. 1% merit and 1% bonus. My employment contract stated 10% bonus. What a joke.

re: "86, did your comment make you feel better about yourself? I have Word to correct my grammar at work. Thank you for your concern; though. ;) "

Basic communication skills are necessary. Until there is a 'Word' for verbal communications, you will come off poorly and lose credibility if you don't know basic elementary/middle school grammar.

Predictable corporate simps focused on "grammar" rather than corporate US realities. Keep buck dancing for your overlords.

In response to ‘Not Sad I Left’ comment, which company do you work for now? I will check their job board for listings. I’m ready to leave and find a company that values my worth. I’ve heard the same bologna from this company for years and it’s sickening.

86, did your comment make you feel better about yourself? I have Word to correct my grammar at work. Thank you for your concern; though. ;)

I worked at UHG/Optum for more than 11 years. Busted my a$$. Always. The “pay for performance” is a lie. Nothing true about it. As a a manger I had “x” amount of dollars and I could only have this number of people at a 5, this at a 4, etc. I had to have some people who got 0 RRP. I also had to downgrade people who should have been higher as I had a very high performing team. It was not based on effort or merit at all. It was a calc on a spreadsheet. If you feel like you are giving 110% and are being taken advantage of- you probably are. When I worked there I wouldn’t have said this.i believed the rhetoric of “not everyone can be meeting or above” if you are a good manager- and have a good team- you absolutely can. This mindset sets people up to fail. It’s garbage. Now seeing it from the outside working for a company that doesn’t have these baloney practices I see it for what it was. Manipulation.

They have so many good qualities as a company as far as for promotion of culture- but they really fall short on walking the walk. It’s unfortunate as they lose so many talented and dedicated people who deserve to be compensated accordingly.

There is no job utopia. But there are places that will value you and treat you better.