Someone posted that they thought VSP was an epic failure but didn't explain why. What are your thoughts? Whether you took it or were left to deal with the fallout. For the eligible, how has your life changed after taking it? If you were eligible and did not accept it, any regrets?
19 replies (most recent on top)
@43a duh Maryland blocked it
@3xd While the rumor after BP left was that CF would be sold to FL Blue or "other organization", was there any solid evidence of this? The State of MD has a big say in any sale/merger of CF, unless that has changed over the years. If a sale or merger was in the works, I would think this would have been in the local news. It also does not make sense to eliminate your seasoned associates until after said sale/merger, as the new company requires detailed knowledge of the internal DTD workings of CF and systems, (something ELT lacks unless they worked themself up through the ranks, IMO).
VSP definitely reduced the headcount of older long-term associates, which after a period of time, brings a savings of salary, benefits and paid claims, (associates 55+ are 2.4–4.8× the annual paid claims of younger associates.
@3ww The objective of VSP was to reduce headcount in preparation for a sellout to Florida Blue. The sellout fell through and now we are stuck with the predictable aftermath.
@3ks I am not sure that the primary purpose of the VSP was to silence the voices of descent. I am also challenged by the notion that there are short or immediate long term financial advantages to the strategy. A lack of effective planning in the VSP roll out, created an environment where an exiting knowledge base gaps would be difficult to overcome. Take a tenured core staff that has knowledge on processes and procedures that are not documented, release them from Employment, pay then for an extended period where the position is not being refilled, and expect performance and outcomes to exceed pre VSP levels does not appear to be a recipie for success. There may be a serious costly Employee Benefit cost that I am not aware of that might be more of a driver.
Many divisions were not a full employment capacity pre-VSP, and products and services suffered. Post VSP this is worse. Help me understand where the bottom line savings are, and more importantly how the products, services and operations are expected to outperform the environment where that exiting manpower and experience existed.
Do I believe you can do more with less?? - YES, but you cannot without the execution of a well thought out plan.
@3ky That information is incorrect. AC was told what to do and with Brian P and others help, she did it. I don't like any of the ELT, but that's how it went down. Can't blame that all on AC.
@3ks Funny how none of the execs seemed to be for VSP yet it happened anyway? You're telling me that AC has that much power and that the rest were just victims? They're all laughing at you from their million dollar boardroom
@OP I’m a VSP-ed former associate and unexpectedly caught up with a current CF executive last week while downtown.
Their spin on VSP is that it was more about getting rid of long term associates who felt free to speak their mind as it was to save money or shrink headcount. They didn’t want a cheaper workforce as much as they wanted a more compliant workforce.
It’s an interesting take and does explain some comments I’d heard from HR staff before I left.
@1rx Pretty sure this is common knowledge inside the walls of CareFirst. What may not be, is any understanding that VSP would save money short or long term. A tenured, seasoned, experienced staff population was released of duty via the VSP. Those members are compensated for leaving. Their positions were not be replaced for a year, which would mean the remaining population would cover the additional workload with an already strained workforce. Even if you replaced those that accepted the VSP, after a year, the brunt of the training to bring them up to speed would fall of that strained workforce - who in that year has been strained by frustrated non VSP employees who departed out of frustration and lack of ownership from Leadership. Where are the savings?
I was told by upper management that the VSP happened because the company is doing bad and that’s how they were planning on saving money. I don’t know if people are aware the company has been vendoring jobs out and constantly laying off that nobody talks about.
@zq initials on the bully? Maybe there are multiple bullies?
@v4 After the meeting this morning where everyone's favorite bully jumped in late to the meeting shouting "we ain't doin this" and "who ain't doin that", you're going to have even more people quitting while on the payroll.
@n4 it really is just constant chaos. Every. Single. Day. I don’t fault the new or lower level associates, they had no clue what they signed up for. HR and our ELT should feel some sense of accountability on how they manipulated this entire situation.
I think VSP was only successful for those who took it. They were freed by the parole board from this Corporate Prison without realizing it’d be the best thing to happen to them. From the staff that took it, one thing they have all said was how much better they feel. Free from stress they didn’t realize was impacting their own health. I wasn’t up for parole this round, so her I watch from behind the CF bars.
VSP for the company was likely a net gain financially. They didn't replace all who retired, and the positions they did replace were done with junior-level people (i.e., cheaper). But that financial gain is only temporary.
The long-term damage is doing so without any good plan in place to keep things running at full capacity with far fewer people, some of who even lack the knowledge to run those same processes. I wasn't able, financially, to take the VSP, but am now looking to jump ship. I don't need this amount of chaos and stress in my career.
@OP Obviously AC or a fellow Kool Aid drinker with that post. "you didn't explain why" "help me understand". Get lost with that oozing elite condescending HR tone. As if you listened to anybody other than McK and BP before you pushed the button. You broke it
I took the VSP. It wasn’t how I wanted to leave CareFirst. I had been at CareFirst for 23 years. But I could not take it any longer. No one seems to care about the members. It’s all about money. I can only hope it gets better!!
@c8 agree. Successful would’ve been to just fire based on bad performance and to pay more to people who were holding things together. I was too young to get the VSP offer but have 20 years here under me. I’m mentally exhausted, environment is more toxic than waterin Flint and the upper management that’s left is terrible. They’re clueless about the work theyve taken on, reorganizing has been a failure with the wrong people under the wrong areas etc. Associates that know their worth are done being abused by CF and are just collecting a paycheck as they wait to see what each week comes with. I have no doubt that if they had a genuine anonymous way to get feedback they’d be embarrassed by what employees feel. It’s sad, I used to love this place. I still love my work but I don’t love doing 3-4 people’s responsibilities and having to modify my high quality work output to fit the narrative of what my new incompetent director wants because he has zero clue about individual business. Good luck with open enrollment because people are definitely not on the edge of their seats to purchase. Nor are Drs excited when a patient walks in their door carrying one of our insurance cards.
I took the VSP offer (after agonizing over it due to being too young for Medicare/SS), and it's the best decision I ever made. The worst thing about it is the expense of purchasing the cr-ppy healthcare (terrible coverage/high deductibles and premiums), but the exit from the horribly toxic environment did wonders for my mental health. The constant frustration of not being able to accomplish anything at work, the constant worry over impending layoffs, the constant absorption of all the BS the ELT spews.......ALL GONE. You may not realize the impact that toxicity has on you until you leave it all behind. I'm MUCH happier now (even if I have less money to live on). No regrets whatsoever!!!
I think that it ‘failed’ for a few reasons (I’m probably missing some so add on). 1. Many of the positions have been back-filled (wiping out any ‘savings’) with less knowledgeable people. 2. Allowing all that knowledge to walk out the door mid-stream into a major system migration deeply impacted our ability to recover from the challenges we now face.
I still struggle to see what positive came out of it.