Challenging Work Environment, Lack of Clear Leadership - Senior Product Designer Gusto Employee Review

1.0
25 Sept 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salary isn't bad, but not entirely market-competitive Benefits are good - but no 401k match Generally hires smart, kind people Offices are nice

Cons

The company overall strives to create a positive and supportive environment, but in this case, I found that middle management, my manager in particular, often lacked transparency and clarity in their communication. Feedback was vague and sugarcoated, making it difficult to know how to improve - contributing to burnout and not feeling safe to show up at work. Conflicting priorities between leadership teams also led to confusion and frustration. Instead of fostering collaboration, I often felt like my attempts to find compromise and alignment were disregarded or met with criticism. This made the work environment more stressful than it needed to be. Gusto does not make any effort to encourage collaboration, and it shows in team morale. Design leadership sadly picks favorites, and it's incredibly obvious. They manage out anyone who is a threat, or they don't like. Many designers left or were let go, leaving a culture of fear within the team. Unless you are one of the few who is a favorite with career growth potential, no one else feels safe. The hiring process is extensive, so people who get through the door are generally kind and smart. While Gusto emphasizes being "Gusto nice," this culture masks underlying issues, making it harder to address problems head-on. It's important to know that the culture and management style may not always align with the company's values, especially if you're working under specific individuals.

Explore other reviews about Gusto

5.0
1 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture, everyone is there to help

Cons

None so far, still pretty new

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.

7
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