Compliance rules, reams of paperwork, and manual processes squeezed into tiny print. For most people, these everyday details are the very definition of human resources. Technically, HR can include all of the above, but it’s also much, much more. It’s more because your home and work lives are intertwined. Work empowers a better life, but life also happens at work.
HR is the rush you feel when you celebrate your first day on a job, meet your colleagues for the first time, or commemorate a work milestone. It’s when you get paid for doing something you’re proud of, and then, use that money to reach a goal you’ve had for years. It’s hopes and dreams. It’s life moments. HR is not cold and nameless — it’s completely human.
We believe that work can be more than just a job when you focus on the people involved — when you focus on the moments that make life special. This is a huge part of our mission at Gusto and today, we’re proud to unveil a new kind of HR that will help us get there.
Meet the next phase of our People Platform.
An all-in-one platform for the HR person who does it all
Gusto is now a one-stop shop for HR, payroll, and benefits that over 40,000 companies across the country love to use. It’s a single platform for you to build great teams, enable them to do great work, and keep your company compliant. From onboarding essentials and document vaults to 401(k)s for retirement planning, we have everything you need to take care of your team. The best part? It’s all available through the Gusto dashboard, so there’s no need to log into multiple places.
Most employers are used to bouncing around from system to system in order to get things done. Whether it’s crafting an offer letter, running payroll, or one of the other million tasks you handle, the same information usually has to be typed in over and over again. Then, you have to make sure all of the different systems can talk to each other. In fact, we found that two out of three HR professionals are extremely frustrated by all the disparate services they have to use to do their job. By having one system of record, you can stop running in circles, and instead, focus on running your company and being a part of the team.
This is something we’ve been working toward since the very origin of our company, and we’re thrilled to give you a peek inside.
Helping employees have a great first day
A person’s first day echoes throughout their entire experience at work. It’s when they meet the broader team for the first time, get settled into their role, and start to see what this new chapter of their life will be like. Done right, thoughtful onboarding can help people truly feel welcomed, and it speeds up the time it takes to get used to their new environment. A tangible sense of community develops when you take the time to properly welcome people to the team. Our Community at Work report found that 90 percent of employers and 84 percent of employees believe that building a sense of community is crucial to a company’s ultimate success. Community matters.
That’s why we’re rethinking what the first day of work can look like. What if you could make people feel comfortable before they even step through the front door? With Gusto, you can.
Before a new hire starts, you can send them a message that includes everything from what the weather will be like on their first day to advice on which transportation options are best. Employees can also feel like they’re a part of the team from the outset through our welcome wall — a place where teammates can send new hires personal notes to help them feel extra special on their first day. Think of it as a welcome mat that’s woven together by everyone on the team. It’s a little gesture that helps teammates forge connections right from the start.
Selecting a health plan can feel really overwhelming, especially when you first begin a new job. Our new health benefits advisor is here to guide people throughout the entire process. Employees can compare their options, get an estimate for how much it will cost for the year, and then receive a customized recommendation that factors in their health needs and budget. Once they get their plan, they can look up providers right in Gusto. It’s benefits made easy.
All your team’s information, right where you need it
Signing documents is another roadblock every new employee — and employer — has to overcome. We recently conducted a round of focus groups and found that 80 percent of HR administrators use physical file folders to store their team’s information. When that happens, things can get quite messy. With our new document vault, you can upload and store all of your team’s details directly within Gusto. Our paperless solution enables employees to easily read and electronically sign forms (like I-9s and W-4s) even before day one. That way, the first day can be solely dedicated to meeting the team and getting acclimated.
We’re also releasing an employee directory so you can access all your team’s information in one place. From payroll history to birthday dates, you’ll never have to scramble to surface your employees’ most important details.
An easy, low-cost 401(k) to help people plan for tomorrow
Our mission at Gusto is to create a world where work empowers a better life. One of the main ways we can do this is by helping employees save for their future. We’re thrilled to announce the release of a 401(k) as an integrated part of the Gusto experience. It’s the easiest 401(k) out there because it’s seamlessly connected to payroll, with contributions taken out automatically. In addition, employees gain access to the lowest portfolio fees in the industry, allowing them to save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of their life.
The best part about these new features is that they’re all included in the core Gusto experience our customers know and love. When we started Gusto, one of our primary goals was to bring HR, payroll, and benefits into one place. It doesn’t make sense to have multiple logins and services to manage employee information. It should be centralized so a business has a single system of record. This is what we’re building at Gusto, and we’d love to hear what you think.
We’re honored to serve over 40,000 businesses nationwide, which gives us the privilege to work with so many talented business owners, entrepreneurs, HR people, and their teams. But really, this is just the start. Today, we’re unlocking a vision we’ve had since day one — that HR, payroll, and benefits can actually work together — and we can’t wait to welcome you and your team.
