Seems Great at First... - Anonymous employee Gusto Employee Review

1.0
Aug 17, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Cool Inclusive Culture, Fun Co-Workers and a lot of good times to be had here. The company is growing fast and that's exciting

Cons

Behind the fun culture is an intense level of politics. Say the wrong thing or look the wrong way at one of the founders and you'll be shunned from important assignments. They've been known to also hire larger groups than necessary and lay a few people off shortly after hiring. Also be prepared to work INSANE hours if you want to get ahead

Explore other reviews about Gusto

5.0
Jun 10, 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
May 20, 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
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