Paychex reviews

3.1

49% would recommend to a friend

(3,860 total reviews)
avatar

John Gibson

48% approve of CEO

46% positive business outlook

Paychex has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 3,860 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Paychex employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Information Technology industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

4K reviews
1.0
Oct 25, 2023

Caution

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You learn more about the world of payroll.

Cons

I have been employed at Paychex for a year and a half, and I would like to provide a comprehensive assessment of my experience during this tenure. It is with sincere intent that I offer a constructive evaluation of my time here, which spans over two decades of professional experience. To initiate this review, it is important to acknowledge that the job description provided by the company does not offer a wholly accurate representation of the responsibilities entailed in the role. During my interview process, I was informed that I would manage a specific set of clients and predominantly engage in payroll-related tasks. Regrettably, this information proved to be misaligned with the reality of the position. Furthermore, the departure of the seasoned manager who hired me was a significant turning point, which, in hindsight, signaled a need for reevaluation. The work environment at Paychex appeared to be marked by a lack of organization, and the workload assigned to the payroll specialists exceeded reasonable expectations. It was apparent that the responsibilities extended to encompass the roles of multiple professionals, a situation that was compounded by the requirement to manage a phone queue. This resulted in a role that resembled a call center more than a payroll services company dedicated to providing specialized support to clients. Each specialist was assigned a minimum of 150 clients, with the expectation of delivering exceptional customer service. However, the constant engagement with the phone queue left little room for the fulfillment of these client-focused duties. Specialists were consistently fielding calls ranging from online troubleshooting to assisting employees with password issues, retrieving W2 tax information from several years back, addressing concerns from former clients, and managing accounts that remained charged despite the cessation of services. It is noteworthy that the demands placed on payroll specialists left little time for meaningful work, with the daily schedule often consumed by call handling and distracting training sessions that detracted from productivity. Moreover, the need to monitor multiple software programs, such as work and client email queues, task managers, and additional systems, added further complexity to the role. One of the notable challenges I encountered during my time at Paychex was the tendency to shift responsibility onto agents, creating an environment of gaslighting. It is essential to emphasize that the issue lies not with the dedication of the agents but with the organizational structure that places unreasonable demands on them while providing insufficient support. While there were opportunities for learning and professional growth, the challenges associated with this role far outweighed the benefits. The company's high turnover rate, exemplified by the departure of numerous colleagues who joined me at the outset, underscores the difficulties inherent in this work environment. In conclusion, I strongly advise against seeking employment at Paychex. The demands placed on payroll specialists are unsustainable, resulting in an unmanageable workload that compromises the quality of service. This review is intended to provide an accurate portrayal of my experience at the company and offer insights into the challenges faced by employees. For clients engaging with Paychex, please understand that the agents' limitations in providing quality service stem from an overburdened work environment, and not from a lack of willingness to assist.

1.0
Oct 19, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working at Paychex was a learning experience of how not to treat employees and customers.

Cons

Working at Paychex was an incredibly disappointing and frustrating experience. As a new employee I was extremely excited to join this team and as it became evident that it lacked the necessary infrastructure, management, and overall vision to provide a conducive work environment. First and foremost, the company's leadership was severely lacking. There was a clear absence of effective communication, resulting in a constant state of confusion and disarray. Important decisions were made without proper consultation, leaving employees feeling undervalued and disregarded. The lack of direction and guidance from management made it nearly impossible to understand the company's goals and objectives. Customers are extremely dissatisfied with their service overall which made it very difficult to build relationships with them, which is an essential component for success in the role. Furthermore, the company's resources were severely limited. Basic tools and equipment necessary for day-to-day operations were either impaired or nonexistent. This not only hindered productivity but also created unnecessary obstacles for employees trying to perform their duties efficiently. It was frustrating to witness the company's unwillingness to invest in essential resources that would have greatly improved our work processes. Another significant issue was the lack of employee support and development. Training is offered but continually changing direction and focus, leadership does not allow the employee proper time to learn the tasks of the job before they are expected to perform them. You are not given the time to learn and develop in the initial onboarding process. That leaves the employee constantly backtracking to self teach while under a tremendous amount of pressure to perform. Moreover, the company's work culture was toxic and demoralizing. There was a pervasive sense of favoritism, with certain employees receiving preferential treatment while others were overlooked. This created a hostile and divisive atmosphere, where teamwork and collaboration were virtually nonexistent. The lack of recognition for hard work and dedication further contributed to low employee morale. Micromanagement and threatening your employees that are in their first six month to one year of employment are not a way to breed success. Lastly, the company's compensation and benefits package were far from competitive. Salaries were below industry standards, and there were no additional perks or incentives to motivate employees. This lack of fair compensation only added to the overall dissatisfaction and frustration experienced by the workforce. In conclusion, my time at Paychex was marked by disappointment and frustration. The lack of effective leadership, limited resources, absence of employee support, toxic work culture, and inadequate compensation made it an incredibly poor working experience. I would strongly advise potential job seekers to carefully consider their options before joining this company.

Viewing 70 - 72 of 3,860 Reviews

Glassdoor has 6,146 Paychex reviews submitted anonymously by Paychex employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Paychex is right for you.