Optimum

HQ
New York, New York, USA
Total Offices: 3
9,000 Total Employees
Year Founded: 1973

What It's Like to Work at Optimum

Updated on March 24, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Job Satisfaction

At Optimum, employee job satisfaction is closely tied to a sense of purpose, ownership, and the ability to make a meaningful impact. Teams across engineering, customer support, field operations, and product development contribute directly to delivering connectivity services for millions of homes and businesses across 21 states. Leaders emphasize a culture rooted in purpose and empowerment, encouraging employees to shape solutions, influence technical decisions, and collaborate across teams to deliver real business outcomes.

Optimum also invests heavily in the employee experience through programs designed to support well-being, growth, and recognition. Comprehensive benefits begin on day one and include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with mental health resources, parental leave, and financial planning support. The company reinforces engagement through employee listening channels like lifecycle surveys, engagement surveys, leadership roundtables, and feedback sessions. Employees also benefit from tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually, mentorship opportunities, hackathons, and recognition programs that celebrate contributions and innovation. These practices help create a workplace where employees feel supported, heard, and motivated to contribute.

 

Employee Perspective

“When things go well, people give credit freely. When things go wrong, they own it. It’s a low-ego, highly aligned team — and that makes all the difference.”
 — Joe Ambeault, Senior Vice President of Product Development

 

At-a-Glance

  • Primary satisfaction drivers: Purpose-driven work, empowerment to influence outcomes, collaborative culture
  • Core benefits: Day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage; parental leave; EAP mental health support; tuition reimbursement up to $5,250
  • Feedback rhythm: Lifecycle and engagement surveys, leadership roundtables, and feedback sessions shaping workplace initiatives.
  • Survey insight: Leadership initiatives emphasize employee voice and recognition as key drivers of engagement and culture transformation
     

External Signals

Optimum has received multiple workplace recognitions, including:

  • 2026 Best Places to Work, Built In
  • Great Place to Work® Certified (April 2025-April 2026)
  • Corporate Equality Index (2023–2024), Human Rights Campaign
  • Equality 100 Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion, Human Rights Campaign
  • DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion (2023)

Willingness to Recommend

Optimum creates a workplace focused on purpose-driven work, employee empowerment, and strong investment in people programs. Leadership consistently emphasizes that the company’s success begins with its employees, and internal initiatives have focused on creating an environment where team members feel valued, supported, and able to make meaningful contributions. From technicians and engineers to customer service teams and retail staff, employees play a direct role in delivering connectivity services to millions of homes and businesses, which reinforces a sense of impact and ownership across the organization.

Optimum has also implemented several workplace initiatives designed to strengthen engagement and employee experience. Programs such as the Employee Experience Center of Excellence, expanded employee listening channels, and leadership-development initiatives aim to improve collaboration and ensure employees have opportunities to grow. The company actively gathers feedback through engagement surveys, lifecycle surveys, leadership roundtables, and feedback sessions, using this input to shape culture and workplace improvements.

The company also offers comprehensive benefits and development resources intended to support employees holistically. Benefits begin on day one and include medical, dental, and vision coverage, financial planning resources, and mental health support through an Employee Assistance Program. Employees also have access to tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually, mentorship opportunities, and professional development programs that promote continuous learning and career growth.

External recognition further reinforces Optimum’s reputation as a supportive workplace. The company has received multiple awards related to culture, diversity, and workplace quality, which align with leadership’s emphasis on inclusion, collaboration, and employee well-being. These signals, combined with employee perspectives highlighting a collaborative and accountable culture, suggest that many employees view Optimum as a workplace where their work matters and where they can build meaningful careers.

 

Employee Perspective

“Our success starts with our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to create an environment where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.”

— Colleen Cone, EVP Chief Human Resources

 

At-a-Glance

  • Employee experience signals: Purpose-driven work, collaborative culture, and investment in employee development
  • Core support programs: Day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage; parental leave; EAP mental health support; tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually
  • Employee listening practices: Engagement surveys, lifecycle surveys, leadership roundtables, and feedback sessions
  • Culture focus: Purpose-driven work, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning

External Signals

  • 2026 Best Places to Work, Built In
  • Great Place to Work® Certified (April 2025-April 2026)
  • Corporate Equality Index (2023–2024), Human Rights Campaign
  • Equality 100 Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion, Human Rights Campaign
  • DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion (2023)

General Market Perception

Optimum positions itself as a purpose-driven connectivity company that emphasizes employee empowerment, collaboration, and meaningful impact. Employees across engineering, field operations, product development, and customer-facing roles contribute directly to delivering internet, mobile, TV, and phone services to millions of homes and businesses across 21 states. Leadership consistently highlights that company success starts with its people and focuses on creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and able to grow.

The company has introduced several initiatives to strengthen employee experience and engagement. These include the Employee Experience Center of Excellence, expanded employee listening programs, and leadership development initiatives. Optimum gathers feedback through engagement surveys, lifecycle surveys, leadership roundtables, and feedback sessions, using employee input to guide culture and workplace improvements.

Optimum’s workplace reputation is also supported by its benefits and development programs. Employees receive day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage, mental health support through an Employee Assistance Program, parental leave, and tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually. Opportunities for mentorship, hackathons, and influence over product and technology decisions reinforce a culture focused on learning, innovation, and collaboration.

External recognition further reflects Optimum’s reputation as an employer committed to workplace quality and inclusion.

 

Employee Perspective

“Our employees live our mission each day by leaning into a customer-first culture of collaboration, excellence, pride and inclusion, supporting each other in a safe and fulfilling work environment.”

—Heather Joines — VP, Talent Acquisition and Operations

 

At-a-Glance

  • Workplace focus: Purpose-driven work, collaboration, and employee empowerment
  • Employee experience initiatives: Employee Experience Center of Excellence, employee listening programs, leadership development
  • Employee support: Day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage; EAP mental health support; parental leave; tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually
  • Recognition: Built In Best Places to Work (2026), Great Place to Work® Certification (2025–2026), Human Rights Campaign workplace inclusion recognitions

 

External Signals

  • 2026 Best Places to Work, Built In
  • Great Place to Work® Certified (April 2025-April 2026)
  • Corporate Equality Index (2023–2024), Human Rights Campaign
  • Equality 100 Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion, Human Rights Campaign
  • DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion (2023)

Tradeoffs

Working at Optimum often means contributing to mission-driven work that supports connectivity for millions of residential and business customers across 21 states. Employees across engineering, product, operations, and customer-facing teams help build and support services such as Optimum Fiber Internet, Optimum TV, and Optimum Mobile. This purpose-driven focus can be motivating for employees who value tangible impact, though the work also requires accountability for delivering reliable services that customers depend on every day.

Optimum’s collaborative environment also reflects the complexity of delivering large-scale connectivity services. Teams regularly work across functions — including technology, field operations, and customer experience — to ensure products, networks, and support systems operate seamlessly. This cross-functional collaboration creates opportunities to contribute broadly across the business, but it can also require strong communication and coordination across teams. To support employees, Optimum offers a hybrid work model, comprehensive benefits starting on day one, professional development opportunities, and engagement initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration and recognition.

 

Employee Perspective

“When things go well, people give credit freely. When things go wrong, they own it. It’s a low-ego, highly aligned team — and that makes all the difference.”

—Joe Ambeault — Senior Vice President of Product Development

 

At-a-Glance

  • Primary tradeoffs: Mission-driven work; cross-functional collaboration; hybrid work structure
  • Scale & complexity: Connectivity services supporting millions of customers across 21 states
  • Performance expectations: Delivering reliable technology, customer experiences, and continuous innovation
  • Support structures: Hybrid work model; day-one health benefits; tuition reimbursement; professional development programs; employee engagement initiatives

Working Here Means

  • Mission-Driven Work: Optimum places greater emphasis on meaningful, purpose-driven work supporting connectivity and communities than on optimizing purely for compensation or speed.
  • Cross-Functional Teamwork: Optimum emphasizes cross-functional collaboration across technology, operations, and customer-facing teams, which drives stronger outcomes but requires coordination across functions.
  • Hybrid Work: Optimum places greater emphasis on hybrid flexibility and balance for corporate roles than on being in the office together every day.

External Signals

Optimum has received external recognition including:

  • 2026 Best Places to Work — Built In
  • Great Place to Work® Certified — Apr 2025 to Apr 2026
  • Corporate Equality Index (2023–2024) — Human Rights Campaign
  • Equality 100 Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion — Human Rights Campaign
  • DEI Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion — 2023

Optimum Employee Perspectives

When things go well, people give credit freely. When things go wrong, they own it. It’s a low-ego, highly aligned team — and that makes all the difference.

Joe Ambeault
Joe Ambeault, Senior Vice President of Product Development

The best part about what I do for Optimum is seeing businesses grow and knowing I had a hand in that. I helped them flourish. I helped them find the right products and services to grow their business. 

Rob Stubbs, Lead SMB Exec

Our success starts with our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to create an environment where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Colleen Cone
Colleen Cone, EVP Chief Human Resources

We are committed to data-driven decision making, bolstering the resilience of our operations, and sustainable business practices. It's inspiring to be a part of a company that takes action to improve the environmental footprint of our operations, our value chain, and our product portfolio.


 

Alan Scott, Sr Director, Sustainability

Embarking on a transformation journey is an exhilarating experience for any company. It’s a time of innovation, growth, taking bold steps, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Dennis Mathew, Chairman & CEO

Optimum Employee Reviews

Working at Optimum has been an incredibly rewarding experience, due to the collaborative culture we have fostered by breaking down silos and empowering eachother. We work cross functionally. Input is valued whether it is coming from a corporate department like government affairs or from frontline employees in the Field. Everyone has the same goal.

Samantha
Samantha, Manager, Government Affairs
Samantha, Manager, Government Affairs