Thread regarding Optum layoffs

If you don’t like the severance, you can choose not to sign and decline it. The hard truth is that a company doesn’t owe you anything as a (soon-to-be) former employee. The severance is leverage to encourage you not to sue after you leave. Why should they pay you more to leave? You will no longer being providing them any service.

@dn It is stupid. The severance and everything associated with it are dependent on you accepting it. The second you challenge the layoff you lose all of it. If you get RIF'd and you don't take another role in UHG, then you get your severance, which is a gift, not a right.

It isn’t a stupid question. Here is what will happen: you ask your leader, they pretend the don’t know what the next steps are & tell you the personally can’t do anything about , then after a day or 2 passes they will direct you to the Employee Center for you to figure it out. Once you file there, you will get a response from the EC saying they don’t manage that stuff either and to hand mail (yes write a letter and drop it in the mail) if you want to address this. Short answer is nothing will happen.

It's not a stupid question, although it isn't as simple as rewriting the proposed terms and pushing it across the desk. If you had reason to believe that you were terminated for an illegal reason, age, s-x, religion, disability, etc., you might have a case, but even that then ii is handled outside of the severance that has been presented to you. It essentially becomes a new and protracted legal process. And the majority of the time the company is going to say they don't negotiate one offs and if you feel you have a claim, then you need to file it and likely go to arbitration. They can and will play the long game.

you're right, it is a very stupid question

Where would you even get this idea?

@a6 Complete waste of time and effort

You have nothing. Severance is "gift" of sorts

No, severance is provided as a courtesy in most cases, unless you are under contract.

No

@OP call an employment lawyer.. a couple of them and ask. This way you are prepared and know your next steps. Being prepared before they let you go, is best.

You would need some leverage, and likely an attorney involved. I am thinking something like you get laid off shortly after requesting an ADA accommodation, etc.

But if you mean asking them for more money, no. If it was that easy they would have 99% of people doing it.

You have no leverage - the company wants nothing from you but to be out the door