Culture: Not as advertised - Anonymous employee BambooHR Employee Review

2.0
Apr 18, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Company is very financially stable, the office environment is good, they truly have some great people who work there, extra little perks here and there are nice. They have established a very clear "why," and honestly, their product is fantastic and their customer base is enthusiastic and excited about the product. This company WILL continue to be successful, no question. They're a leader in their market and thought leaders in the space. If you mostly care about working for a "winner" and a successful company, this is the place.

Cons

Culture is not what it seems, it's very limiting. You can't work too much (over 40 hours), but you'd better be there 8-5. In some roles, you can’t even come close to getting what you need done and are punished for working more to try to make people happy. You are not trusted to be a professional adult and get your work done unless you’re there at prescribed times. Be prepared to walk on eggshells. Fall in line, or else. Some of their best employees are let go with no announcement or warning, just for seemingly disagreeing or trying to make things better. This is not only recent, but as a pattern of behavior. Honestly, it’s better for those employees, as they always seem to come out better on the other side. They don't reward type-A go-getters who see problems and solve problems, they reward sheep who stay with the flock and don't ask questions. Very difficult to get things done. The founder has to approve every last penny spent. For departments that have to spend money to function, e.g. marketing, it’s excruciatingly painful. Way too conservative and tight. It's turned highly political. Compensation is low market and forget advancement opportunities, they just lean on their “great places to work” awards to get people in the door. They "don't believe in titles," and keep the organization as flat as possible. When you do get advancement, you "lead from where you are" instead of getting an actual promotion and pay increase. Your reward is just more responsibility. In their defense, they're getting slightly better in this area (because they have to play the game to get and keep talent), but it's still not real-world. They lean on hiring young people, mostly out of college, who don't know much better.

Explore other reviews about BambooHR

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

BambooHR is a great place to work with outstanding people.

Cons

BambooHR is focusing heavily on AI, which can come at the expense of jobs.

3.0
May 27, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you find the right pockets of culture and leadership, you will LOVE it at Bamboo. The Marketing, Technology, HR, and Finance organizations have fantastic leaders who truly care about their employees. There are many opportunities to grow within these departments and career paths are clearly defined. Pay is not great, but the benefits are amazing.

Cons

There are SO many snakes in the grass here. Especially within the CX and Sales organizations. CX and Sales leaders are always looking for ways to hurt each other and they do - frequently. The organization is is going through a big growth phase, but it means that the pressure is INSANE right now. There are too many projects happening at once and no one cares about how it affects other areas of the org.

2
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All