UKG reviews

If you are an IT professional—be it an engineer, business analyst, or product manager—thinking about working at UKG, it's imperative to acquaint yourself with the profound transformation the company has undergone. My account is the perspective of a legacy company employee who has observed the metamorphosis of UKG from two independently thriving entities to a colossal, impersonal, plastic, and uncaring corporate behemoth. In 2019, Ultimate Software, under the direction of CEO Scott Scherr, was acquired by Hellman and Friedman for a staggering $11 billion. This move was not unprecedented; Hellman and Friedman had previously acquired Kronos in 2007. By 2020, a merger was inevitable, birthing UKG. This transition is symbolic of the wider malaise affecting the American workforce, where private equity's quest for profit overrides the welfare of the human capital. Capitalist investment companies can dramatically reshape a company's ethos, clicking together massive, billion-dollar corporations like LEGO pieces, upending the lives of innocent people in the process. Post-merger, many seasoned executives from Ultimate Software, who had nurtured a culture of inclusivity and growth, either departed or were shown the door. Their replacements predominantly hailed from consulting firms, including McKinsey, or other antiquated, old-school corporate business environments. Notably, the Engineering and Product Organization head - a McKinsey veteran and downright cruel and thoughtless dictator - introduced a poorly conceived Return To Office policy, which seemed more like a tactic to induce attrition than a well-thought strategy. The result? Chaos. No one has a place to sit; the parking situation is atrocious. It's demoralizing and feels as antiquated as the management style of everyone above the Director level. UKG, despite Ultimate Software's two-decade history without layoffs, has severed ties with over 1,000 employees. The reasons provided, such as "duplication" and "irrelevant skills," are callously administrative, considering these employees have over 10-15-20 years of experience. While Executive narratives during self-congratulatory Town Hall meetings center around business needs while recounting tales of how the laid-off were supposedly supported, disturbing accounts have surfaced of employees being laid off via a 5-minute phone call, some after dedicating 15 years to the company, and while away tending to urgent family matters or during deeply personal crises. These actions contrast UKG's proclaimed ethos: "Our Purpose is People." However, when probed on this slogan, it was revealed that their definition of 'people' perhaps doesn’t align with the general understanding that humans, indeed, are individuals. In addition, beneficial perks are gradually ebbing away, replaced by superficial programs like "U Choose," which feels more like a token gesture than a genuine reward. The common belief is that other Benefits will soon go as the company continues to cut costs and replace both people and benefits with cheaper alternatives. If this wasn't enough, nearly three years since the merger and only a handful of common systems have been linked. Those that are linked together, people are not adequately trained to use or manage, and the customers suffer the consequences as a result. To prospective employees, understand this: UKG is a departure from Ultimate Software and Kronos. This is not the same company as either. It's an entity that seems to have embraced a colder, more calculating corporate strategy. A sequence of layoffs – 250 here, 500 there – is masked by percentage play, making significant workforce reductions appear trivial. The recruitment process, too, is revealing. Many job positions remain unfilled, while viable and often overqualified candidates are turned away due to geographical constraints or a bias against Remote Work. Furthermore, there's a clear trend toward offshoring roles to locales like Uruguay, Ukraine, or Noida, India, known for their lax labor laws and overburdened, under-compensated workforce. The reality within the company's walls is one of perpetual unease. The environment is rife with anxiety, mistrust, and an omnipresent sense of surveillance, as if every action is scrutinized under a magnifying glass. This corporate culture prioritizes fleeting quarterly metrics over long-term employee well-being. This is the Walmart of the Software world. In conclusion, if you value job security, mutual respect, empathy, and a genuinely caring environment, it would be prudent to look beyond UKG. You'll notice their seemingly positive reviews here on Glassdoor often emanate from Directors, VPs, or specific departments, such as Sales, who continue to chug forward. At the same time, the rest of the company struggles. This only further underscores the dichotomy within the company. Consider this your warning.

I have worked at UKG for over 10 years and unfortunately, I can't recommend it as a great place to work anymore. One of the biggest issues is the new leadership within the company. Compared to Aaron and Scott, the new guard is an entirely less empathetic bunch. It feels like they are more interested in their own agendas than in the well-being of their employees. Additionally, there seemed to be a trend of great talent and tenure leaving the company. It has been disheartening to see so many talented people leave because they don't feel valued or heard. The mandatory 3 days in the office per week is a major drawback. In today's world, with so many options for remote work, it is frustrating to be forced to come into the office so frequently regardless of commute time. 90 minutes drive each way, doesn't matter...suck it up. This policy seemed to be a relic of an older time, and it made it difficult to balance work and personal responsibilities. This is no longer a great place to work. I hope someone with the power recognizes this and makes some corrections at the top, otherwise I don't see this playing out positively for UKG in the end.