Highly political workplace for those without right inside connections. - Client Services ADP Employee Review

1.0
14 Oct 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The ADP name looks good on a resume. Pay is marginal, but other benefits like stock purchase, 401K and insurance make up the difference if you survive the learning curve and the first couple of year-ends. In this poor economy, any job is better than unemployment.

Cons

Too much secrecy regarding the many layoffs and terminations the last five years. Co-workers literally disappear on their way to the bathroom and are never heard from again. Management will not say anything more than the individuals no longer work for ADP and thereafter denies the very existence of such individuals. Office environment definitely a cross between Twilight Zone and Third Reich. Promotional opportunities only available to those with family or close friend connections to current management. Favored associates who get married or have a child are usually rewarded with a promotion, even if unmerited by performance. Everyone else is told to keep working hard, learning new skills, be a supportive team player, etc. -- and maybe someday they might advance a level and receive a full 4% pay increase. Time off not allowed from Thanksgiving until February due to year-end work volume, except for those select few on the fast track upward. Some associates even called at home on Christmas and/or the New Year's Day holiday itself and ordered to report to work on short notice, regardless of their personal family plans. Vacation time for the rest of the year must be scheduled in January and not changed under threat of disciplinary action. Family or personal emergencies requiring a few unexpected hours away from work also result in verbal and written warnings and negative performance reviews. Of course, all these rules only apply to rank-and-file associates, not the brown-noses and management friends and relatives.

Explore other reviews about ADP

5.0
22 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are available to employees

Cons

None at this time Thank you

2.0
15 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Established company with a long history and relatively stable business operations. - Provides a sense of job stability compared to many organizations navigating rapid changes in the current AI-driven market. - Lower risk of frequent restructuring or large-scale layoffs than many high-growth technology companies. - Opportunity to work with experienced employees who have deep institutional and domain knowledge. - Predictable work environment that may appeal to individuals seeking long-term stability over rapid change. - Strong choice for professionals who value job security and a steady career path in an uncertain economic climate.

Cons

- Documentation is limited or rusted, and many operational processes lack clear runbooks or standardized procedures, making onboarding and troubleshooting more difficult than necessary. - If you're coming from a modern, fast-paced engineering environment, the organization may feel behind current industry practices and tooling. - Internal politics can sometimes outweigh technical merit or execution. - There are teams with very long-tenured employees where change and innovation can be difficult to drive. - Decision-making often involves multiple layers of approval, resulting in significant bureaucracy and slower execution. - Processes can move slowly, and collaboration is not always transparent across teams, leading to inefficiencies and occasional confusion around ownership. - In some areas, roles, responsibilities, and operational processes are not clearly defined, creating unnecessary chaos and inconsistent ways of working. - Engineering standards and best practices vary considerably between teams, making cross-team collaboration challenging. - Organizational change tends to happen slowly, which can be frustrating for employees who are focused on modernization, automation, and continuous improvement.

avatar
ADP Response
1d
Thank you for sharing your insights on your contractor experience at ADP. We value your feedback.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All