Thread regarding Optum layoffs

Story on layoffs

Hi there,

My name's Yowei Shaw and I'm a journalist working on a story for the podcast This American Life (www.thisamericanlife.org) about layoffs, after getting laid off myself from NPR (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/us/npr-layoffs-podcasts.html).

It was an awful experience and I'm so sorry Optum might be facing layoffs as well.

Which is why I'm reaching out. I'm looking to talk to workers who know or suspect layoffs are coming, but are still waiting to find out who's on the list. I'm hoping this story can shed light on what it's like to go through this and some of the larger questions and issues that surround layoffs.

If you're open to talking, please get in touch this week or next at shaw.yr@gmail.com. I can tell you more about what I'm working on, and if it helps, we can speak on background or off the record. Feel free to pass this along to anyone who's in the same situation and if you have any leads, I'm all ears.

Thanks so much for considering. Sending my very best to you and your colleagues. My heart goes out to y'all.

Oh and if you want to find out more about me and my previous work, you can check out my website www.yoweishaw.com.

Take care,
Yowei

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| 3611 views | | 13 replies (last July 19, 2023) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1nzljgVl

13 replies (most recent on top)

Glad you guys sniffed this out, this is an HR trap to make sure you are on the out list!

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Post ID: @7siv+1nzljgVl

Hundreds of positions out there on their site but they dismiss talent that’s staring them in the face. I was told years ago that UHG and Optum su-k. They do. And that Erik hASSman or whatever his name is can shove his Colorado bull cr-p up his ars. The guy is not brightest and sounds like an id--t on town halls.

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Post ID: @6aoe+1nzljgVl

Ref: disgruntled tin fouls author- buddy! You knew well that you could not get the “truth” or trust from leadership on transparency on RIFs, that’s why you snooped around here? Lol
Do you honestly believe you will get the RIFs scoop from this forum? It’s mostly “JR” as in just rumor.

Even if you find out the “truth” from this forum on your “fate” what do you gain from this??? Lol

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Post ID: @2dkj+1nzljgVl

In a Company as large as UHG, they could do a FAR better job when it comes to layoffs. In most cases, they wait until the Thursday before a payday, and then notify employees that "today" is their last day. In some rare cases, there's a date.. maybe a week or a few weeks out. But, there's ZERO effort given by the company to retain these employees, despite the thousands of open requisitions within the company. If they truly cared about retaining their talent, they could make an effort, prior to layoffs to find these employees a place elsewhere in the company. Dedicate a team to it. It's worth it.

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Post ID: @2owb+1nzljgVl

The true scoop is that I used to come to these threads to get real data on layoffs. Now, disgruntled tin foil hat people have taken it over. The info here is mostly angry rants and wild speculation by a few trolls.

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Post ID: @2gfr+1nzljgVl

Ref: “very bitter employees”- for you to use this “label” on fellow employees- clear sign that your “words of encouragement” has another agenda in support of collecting info - in an attempt to do “damage control”.. stop the psychological warfare and leave this forum ..

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Post ID: @2rsk+1nzljgVl

Why encouraged people to contact a social media platform (unverifiable) ? There was a previous post with extensive info on various new media POC (point of contact), along with potential legal representation.
Are you collecting employees identity? Your intention is lack of sincerity/ingenuity to say the least!

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Post ID: @2edh+1nzljgVl

Our company's layoff culture has resulted in some very bitter employees. I encourage you to reach out to Yowei if you've been affected in recent months or slated for termination. This is also an opportunity to call out any unfair or corrupt behavior by management and C level leadership. Did they RIF you or pass you over for promotion but keep their favorite yes-person? Any other dirty business practices to leak? Take this opportunity. Be sure to protect yourself. Reach out to them via their official social media because anyone could have posted this and given a fake email address to trap you. Message them through Twitter might be best to confirm.

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Post ID: @2eqj+1nzljgVl

The author of this post - if you are SO interested in our stories. Read through the previous/current threads, you will be able to write a "Best Seller" book...Why attempt to people correspond with you using personal email? Who in the right mind would do that besides being exposed by you to others? Go write a book after you read all the threads on this forum ...lol

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Post ID: @1yaq+1nzljgVl

it happens on Thursdays...

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Post ID: @1uzw+1nzljgVl

We work for Optum do you think we can’t smell how fake this is dude? Lol.

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Post ID: @hpp+1nzljgVl

How pathetic to go this route....

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Post ID: @nlj+1nzljgVl

nice try HR!

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Post ID: @doz+1nzljgVl

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