When being recruited, it seems like common practice to give unrealistic earnings expectations. Even misled on your actual OTE. I felt this way, and it seems everyone else I spoke with felt the same.
After going public in 2014, a lot has seemed to change. Most of which doesn't affect or concern me much, except for this: Employee benefits, healthcare specifically, is always a driving factor in these sales. It used to be how we won business. We could offer a small business struggling with increasing healthcare prices a better benefits package to offer their employees and save them on their medical. However, in late 2015 through now, underwriting has been a lot less competitive, and it has made it much tougher to sell. As apposed to being able to offer our a small investment and sometimes even a net savings, it is now in most cases a significant investment. It is still a sell-able product, but you have to find businesses who want to invest in their HR infrastructure.
Here is the main negative-- There seems to be a very negative management culture from top down. At least from the managers I interact with, there has to be a lot of pressure put on them, which runs down to us. I don't think my manager experience is necessary reflective for the whole company, but he was the worst manager I have ever worked for. Inconsistent, rude, arrogant. You never know what you are going to get from him. I have heard similar stories in different markets.
Good base salary and benefits offerings. After commissions and benefits, it is overall a very strong comp plan. If you do well and stick around, the comp can be great.
The product is strong. Mainly compete with 2 or 3 other PEO's in the market aside from some smaller guys. Technology is very good, benefits offering is good, consulting and other services are all very competitive.
