Paylocity offers a comprehensive Human Capital Management (HCM) suite designed primarily for medium to large businesses looking to streamline and integrate their HR operations. It positions itself as an all-in-one platform covering payroll, HR, benefits administration, time tracking, talent management, and, notably, employee engagement, aiming to support the entire employee lifecycle with a strong focus on automation, compliance, and data analytics.
At its core, Paylocity provides robust solutions for essential HR functions. Its payroll system handles complexities for domestic employees, including tax filing across US states and territories, and extends globally through a partnership with Blue Marble for over 100 countries. Features like customizable pay structures, automated audits for accuracy, data sync with time tracking, and on-demand wage access offer flexibility and compliance.
Benefits administration integrates directly with payroll, automatically adjusting deductions and communicating changes to carriers via EDI transfers during open enrollment or qualifying events. The HRIS component simplifies employee data management, document handling, and task automation (like information collection or onboarding processes). Both employees and managers can access relevant data anytime via desktop or a dedicated mobile app, facilitating self-service for tasks like viewing paystubs, requesting time off, or managing team data.
Time and attendance tools also sync with payroll, offering various time collection methods (including hardware options), compliance updates for labor regulations, robust reporting, and scheduling features that leverage historical data.
Where Paylocity particularly differentiates itself is through its extensive suite of employee engagement tools. The "Paylocity Community" acts as a unified hub for communication (text, voice, video, announcements), collaboration, file sharing, and peer recognition using customizable "Impression Badges," aiming to replace scattered third-party apps.
"Employee Voice" is a key feature using automated surveys based on proprietary models to measure employee sentiment and engagement. It provides managers with detailed results, filtering options, sentiment analysis on comments, and serves as a foundation for creating action plans. The platform also includes a survey builder for custom feedback needs, integrating results with its "Modern Workforce Index" analytics module.
Performance management is another strong area, featuring unique "Journals" for ongoing manager-employee feedback (including templates for warnings or improvement plans), 360-degree feedback tools with sentiment analysis to aid constructive delivery, collaborative goal setting, skill matrices based on talent assessments, and tools for managing compensation plans within budget. A Learning Management System (LMS) allows for creating, sharing, assigning (manually or automatically), and tracking training, including compliance courses.
Paylocity streamlines recruiting with features like dynamic job posts (embedding video), branded career page builders, job board syndication (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.), screening questions, applicant tracking (ATS) with customizable workflows, direct candidate communication, and background checks via a partnership with Checkr. However, it reportedly lacks strong automatic candidate matching, making it potentially better suited for lower-volume hiring. Once a candidate accepts an offer via e-signature, they flow into an automated onboarding process with paperwork prompts and assigned training.
Paylocity does not offer transparent pricing or free trials; businesses must contact sales for a custom quote. Based on provided examples and sources, costs might range from $22-$32 per employee per month, with potential setup fees and additional charges for services like W-2 filing. This suggests it may be a more expensive option compared to some competitors.
Customer support includes dedicated account managers available via phone and chat during central time business hours (Mon-Fri). While initial contact is often quick and support staff are generally helpful (as noted by a reviewer), there can be issues with the availability of the specific assigned representative, leading to a lack of continuity. Various support resources like online guides and community forums are also available, though structured ongoing training support could be improved.
Beyond the lack of pricing transparency and a free trial, potential users should be aware of a learning curve due to the platform's extensive features and navigation that can feel less intuitive when moving between different modules. While reporting is generally robust, customization options could be more flexible. Changes to complex configurations like payroll might require assistance from Paylocity experts rather than being self-serviceable.
Paylocity presents a powerful, feature-rich HCM platform ideal for medium-to-large organizations seeking an integrated solution for managing HR, payroll, benefits, and talent, with a particularly strong emphasis on fostering employee engagement and communication. Its comprehensive compliance tools and analytics are also significant advantages. While the cost, lack of pricing transparency, and potential learning curve are factors to consider, businesses needing a scalable, all-encompassing system to manage their workforce strategically, especially those prioritizing engagement and culture-building tools, will find Paylocity a compelling contender.
Visit Paylocity
9.5
