GROW plan is actually a PIP in disguise - Account Manager Gusto Employee Review

1.0
Feb 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Okay base salary, customers generally like the product

Cons

I was put on a GROW plan that my manager framed as a development opportunity, but I later found out from others what it's basically a PIP My role was expansion sales but we were also expected to provide tech support on the platform to our clients. None of us really knew what we were doing and it was confusing to clients because we couldn't help them but were also expected to try to upsell them when they reached out with issues. Did a decently sized layoff right before Christmas and performance manage people for being on parental leave

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.

9
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