Disruption or destruction? - Anonymous employee UKG Employee Review

1.0
Jan 7, 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pros would be UKG's benefits, specifically the 401k and medical premiums 100% covered.

Cons

Cons would be new leadership, specifically the senior leadership in HR (over the past 9 mo); however UKG has hired many new senior leaders over the past year+ (new head of product/technology, diversity, etc.) and the President becoming the CEO after Aron Ain's retirement. These leaders have external brands which have become a priority to maintain. As an employee this initially gave a slight sense of pride and certainly helps brand UKG, but over time we have seen true characters emerge and now understand the career security and self-importance this provides. In HR, the leadership team talks a lot about people being at the center of all they do and uses Brene Brown terminology (rumbles, heart-centered) yet Brene would need to re-educate them about her teachings. These leaders talk negatively about each other behind closed doors, often have to explain when they are "rumbling", and make decisions solely at the top which are often not communicated to the rest of the department. Many of these leaders have bounced around every few years and pride themselves in transforming companies. Transformation does cause disruption and disruption can be good in order to truly create necessary change. Yet what I am experiencing and witnessing is leaders being dismissive and a lack of curiosity and true listening skills. They are more concerned about implementing their best practices from other companies (yet are often not around long enough to see the long-term effects of their decisions). Additionally, they are not fully transparent; I often feel there is more to the decision or situation they are not sharing. It leaves employees feeling insecure, unwilling to speak up, intimidated, and silenced. I look around and see so many unmotivated employees just acting as robots versus using their true talents and experiences.

Explore other reviews about UKG

1.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There was once a great company named Ultimate Software, it was destroyed by a hostile takeover from H&F, a private equity firm, and a merger with Kronos to become UKG. There are very few Pros since that time.

Cons

When this company was Ultimate Software, prior to the takeover from H&F and the merger with Kronos, it was a world class company with top shelf people. The company Motto was "People First" and they truly lived by that motto, never a layoff, great working environment and stealer benefits. Since the takeover and subsequent merger with Kronos, to become UKG this company has taken a path of "Money First", which is understandable given the greedy nature of Private Equity Firms like H&F. They have systematically closed most of the offices across the US and have been expanding their footprint in Noida India, for obvious reasons. The leadership that has been put in place by H&F is clearly focused on IPO. And we all know what that means, clean up the books and make the company look as good on paper as possible. Can you say "Lipstick on a Pig". This was once a great company when it was run by Scott and Viv but now it has gone the way of the Private Equity management and is heading for a great fall.

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