I applied like crazy when I learned of my fate with end date 5/2.. I was in a panic. Even applying for lower GLs. Not much action.. but I had an interview scheduled (for a pay grade lower AFTER my last day) but decided to pull my application. I can't see the benefit of not taking the severance and coming back as a rehire (if I come back). I've been at optum for 16 yrs. The severance is large. Why would I risk my severance and interview for a role. I am at the mercy of the offer. If they offer me something at 90% of my pay now, and I decline, I lose my severance. Or if I accept I have a salary 20k less and lose the severance. I just wonder if they blacklist you after you take the severance and try to come back 🤔
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Last October, for the office I was in. All redeployments were to Customer Service positions with awful hours. Some of those positions was for Sales. Several people have already quit and moved on to other companies. That is what they want to happen. They put us in positions that no one else wants and that have a large turn around to start with. But you can accept them until you find something else. Do not expect to be offered anything like what you are currently doing. I suggest if you have a choice of accepting Severance or being redeployed; Choose the severance. We didn’t have a choice. We were only offered to be redeployed: And they chose the new position for us. And it is terrible.
Basically 0 chance of redeployment in a 2 week window. In Feb RIF both me and colleague applied for 40 req's each. Colleague got 1 interview on 2nd to last day, I had none. You will likely get rejected for any GL's 2 or more lower than what you were at RIF so focus on 1 lower or up. Focus redeployment on applying for as many internal postings as you can because there is barely anything outside of clinical or the lowest grade levels with external postings. I was told you needed to have a 2 week clean break from Optum after your last day or you would be considered a rehire. Depending on state guidelines severance is paid out around that time. Final paycheck came w/in 24 hrs due to state, severance was the pag period about 4 weeks out. FYI - even as ex-employee you can not be referred for internal jobs if there is no external posting, even by an old coworker or leader, after last day.
Also if you refuse a job offer from them thru redeployment at lesser pay, you can’t file for unemployment, it will most likely be denied because you turned down work.
Most large companies the redeployment is all empty words. It makes them look good when we all know if you get voted off the island they dont want you in any capacity. If your number comes up its up and leave move on. You have no future at the current company. As far as merit increases they keep that to a minimum to avoid compounding expenses over time. They do the one time lump sum bonus every year which has less long term liability on the books. All depends on what optum fiefdom you landed in of in acquired company. Most of the people have a max of 2 years after company is purchased before the purge happens in the past. Now it appears the timeframe has been accelerated. If you are legacy CHC sad to say you on death row. They already dumped most functions on the Optum skeleton crew. They wont be so co--y and arrogant now.
There is a grace period. If you are laid off and accept a new job at Optum within this grace period, you will not be paid the package but you will not loose your 16 years of experience. So if you are laid off next year, you will get your package of 17 years of service. You have to check with Optum how long this grace period is.
I wouldn’t risk your severance. I was laid off last year by Optum and I refused to apply for anything internal and risk not getting severance. The minute they offer the role to you if you decline it your severance is gone. To me it’s not worth it because there seems to be a big and consistent RIF plan that who knows if that new role would be next. I wish you the best of luck, I’m so sorry this happened.
With the way that Optum doesn't give merits is truly sad. If you haven't been told that by your leader then you are hearing it now. Under the CHC realm you at least got something (in most cases; I know I always gave my team one) but under Optum it is only applied if you are a 5 on the rating scale and lets be honest senior leadership says "No one is a 5". Leave, take the severance, and never look back.
I would not throw away the severance, no. But, should you come back later, do keep in mind that if you get RIF’d 1,2, 3 years down the road, your severance will be extremely small. For what that’s worth.
The way the recruiters are writing and looking at the job REQs right now and how many applicants they are getting, it’s honestly a long shot anyway. This company absolutely flooded the job market with healthcare professionals looking for work.
Why would you ever consider coming back to Optum? Chances are you would face the same scenario a few years down the road - again. I know change is scary…… but if I were you, stay away from Optum. Don’t look back! They are not the only employer out there.
Best wishes with your new endeavors,
You will do great!!!!!!