What a dissapointment.. - Senior Analyst Gusto Employee Review

1.0
26 Sept 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great, fun and smart people that like to have a good time.

Cons

I interviewed for an analyst position with ZenPayroll (now Gusto) and was offered the job. During the interview I was told that because of my vast experience I was going to be a lead "down the road". I was excited and empowered to do the best work of my life knowing that it will pay off in the future. I was asked to write a Glassdoor review the first week on the job when I was still seeing this "career" through rose colored glasses. I came in early every morning and was always the last one leave. I wanted to make sure I learned as much as I could as quickly as I could. There were a lot of mistakes made prior to me taking this positon, which was understandable considering this is a start up environment. I wanted to make sure they would not happen again... I felt my work was making a difference, only to be called into a random, unexpected meeting with HR where I was told that "today is my last day". Apparently the management decided that 2 months on job - 2 MONTHS! - was enough to make a judgment on whether I will be a good lead or not. I was shocked, confused and heartbroken knowing how much time and effort I have put in. Never in my life have I experienced such cold blooded and apathetic management that would rather dispose of you on the spot than have your back and provide creative feedback. Don't let all the perks and façade fool you. It is not about how hard you work but rather how good of "friends" you are with the management. I got fooled into believing the premise of "one family" and "making a difference". I passed on 2 other job offers because I thought ZenPayroll was it. I could not have been more wrong..

Explore other reviews about Gusto

5.0
10 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Smart and friendly coworkers. Excellent team culture

Cons

Tunnel visions on AI a bit too much

2.0
20 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The product is genuinely good, too bad the same can’t be said for how they treat the people who sell it.

Cons

Leadership talks a big game about people-first culture but the reality doesn’t match. The Chicago office expansion felt like a poorly thought-out experiment, new hires were brought on without a clear long-term commitment, and layoffs came without warning, leaving people blindsided. Crossing a billion dollars in revenue and still cutting employees sends a clear message about where workers rank on the priority list. Remote work flexibility is also a glaring weakness. For a company selling HR software to modern businesses, their internal stance on where employees can work is surprisingly rigid and hypocritical. The “flexibility” messaging is mostly optics. The broader concern is the AI roadmap. The automation push feels less like an innovation strategy and more like a slow wind-down of the workforce. Employees aren’t blind to it, it creates anxiety and erodes trust. The culture of transparency they promote externally is largely a facade internally.

10
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All