More than 500 California workers with healthcare giant to be laid off in waves, stste filing shows

The affected locations include urgent care centers, primary and specialty care clinics, and infusion centers.Photo byLuis MelendezonUnsplash

Optum, the health services segment of UnitedHealth, announced it will lay off 524 employees in California. This news was disclosed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state on July 18. The impending layoffs and departmental closures will impact a variety of healthcare facilities and administrative roles across the state.

The affected locations include urgent care centers, primary and specialty care clinics, and infusion centers. In addition, the layoffs will impact office workers and over 160 remote employees, according to a letter from Optum to California’s Employment Development Department.

The layoffs will be implemented in eight waves, beginning this fall and continuing into early 2025, the letter detailed. The staged approach aims to manage the transition and provide affected employees with adequate notice and support during the process.

This significant reduction in workforce comes as a part of a broader restructuring within Optum, which has been striving to optimize its operations and resources amid changing healthcare landscapes. The announcement has raised concerns among employees and healthcare advocates about the potential impacts on patient care and service availability in the affected areas.