Optum reviews

3.4

56% would recommend to a friend

(15,510 total reviews)

Patrick Conway

46% approve of CEO

46% positive business outlook

Optum has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 15,510 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Optum employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Healthcare industry (3.4 stars).

Reviews by job title

16K reviews
3.0
Sep 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fun work teams across each group I was with over the years. I did have opportunities to grow with the company in the beginning, and did do some amazing work. Nice HQ building.

Cons

Once they started to grow faster (14k to 250k+ in about 2016) things were chaotic. It was like there were all these CEOs (i.e. egos) but no one could make a decision. Layoffs happen at least 3x a year, but usually just before the 3rd quarter to hit revenue targets by year-end for exec. bonuses. Then, people are rehired in Q1 & Q2--not the same people, but cheaper ones. Sad, but true.

avatar
Optum Response
2y
Thank you for your feedback. Please know that we are committed to providing job stability for our employees and are actively working towards avoiding any unnecessary layoffs.
2.0
Apr 24, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

work from home, equipment provided (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset) Generous PTO Opportunities for growth/room to move around within the company

Cons

If you like being micromanaged and being watched like a hawk, then this is the job/company for you. Unrealistic expectations of employees; lack of support in role due to budget and understaffing. No flexibility whatsoever Forget about using your PTO because your workload is too heavy and continues to pile up if you take time off. If you want to transfer to another position you have to have been with the company for at least 12 months. Retaliation exists despite their statements/policies of "taking retaliation seriously" Misleading information about what the position is, responsibilities, average workload, etc. If you are someone who asks questions instead of just doing what you're told then you are viewed as a "problem". Overall low morale amongst staff/team Penalized rather than supported when asking for help The company provided internet is very slow The software tracks your movement, so if you aren't "busy" at all times it WILL get noticed. The headset provided isn't comfortable and the phone system is archaic and rarely worked correctly. management has favorites and if you aren't one you will definitely have problems. no work-life balance whatsoever. a lot of burn out and turnover. Pay is lower than what competitors offer (for very similar positions that are far less demanding) UHC insurance is probably one of the worst insurances I've ever had for my own coverage.

4.0
Jun 4, 2021

Steady Job Steady Pay...

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Full disclosure---Optum is such a huge organization that YMMV, however, by in large, I think it's mostly consistent. Culture - As large as this company is, leadership makes a priority and huge commitment to culture, inclusivity, and diversity. There are regular culture trainings and it's a very open culture where opinions and voices from all levels of staff are encouraged to speak up. Steady Job Steady Pace - there is always work to do, very hard not to keep busy, but work / life balance is the best I've seen in any organization. It's encouraged to use your PTO and take the well deserved break. Work From Home - I would guess that like 90% of our company is WFH. I started as a telecommuter 5 years ago and when COVID hit, our company already had the infrastructure, technology, and culture setup for a work at home environment, so my company never skipped the beat, we actually got busier because of this since we were processing HHS claims.

Cons

Pay - they are headquartered in Minnesota, so if you're going to tell a commuter coming from a major city expect a major shock and pay, probably 25% to 30% lower. They use a normal distribution pay scale curve, but it's significantly lower than industry standards. Healthcare Costs - it's amazing that this is a Fortune 5 company and the largest health insurance plan in the united states! However out of all the companies I've worked for it is the most expensive plan with the least options. How in the world could this be, how can I work for the biggest health insurance company United States and they offer their employees these plans and prices, it's an insult and it's disrespectful to the staff as well. To give you an idea I'm paying close to $600 a month for a family of 3 and that's not even the more expensive plan, this is the cheapest one I have. Yes there are tiers and the people who make more money pay more. However the tears should be distributed were broadly, specifically for executives, they make tens of millions of dollars a year yet they pay the same as someone who's making $100,000 a year. Employee stock purchase program - This one gets me the most angry. When I first started they had an 85% purchase price and within a 6-month window you pay the lowest price that the stock was at and you could sell it at the highest price that the stock was out was in the 6 months. This is fair as the stock market fluctuates. However they changed it this year and it's no longer offered at a 15% discount, now it's only offered at a 10% discount,. On top of that, this is the real kicker, it's all about luck, because the price you pay is the very last day of the 6 month window. So if the stock price was consistently low for 5 months than dramatically increased at the very last day of the window then you purchased it at the higher price. However, very certain that this doesn't impact executives. Extremely difficult for promotion - I have consistently been a top performer, getting grade 5 for 3 years in a row, however I have not received the promotion that I deserve. It's a confusing message and makes you want to consider your career here. Additionally it's insulting that you get a 1% raise after being a top performer.

Viewing 49 - 51 of 15,510 Reviews

Glassdoor has 16,979 Optum reviews submitted anonymously by Optum employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Optum is right for you.