Item: Paycor
Rating: 5
Author: Ali Aguilar

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Paycor is both our HRIS and Payroll system. We have demoed other modules, but none align with our needs or budget. Admittedly, one of the reasons we chose Paycor is because we needed a 360-degree integration with our 401k system, and at the time there were few options. We switched from Paylocity which is a similar product. Other features we were looking for were robust reporting options, a good user experience, and a potential to add other modules as our company grew, like an ATS or benefits platform.

Pros and Cons

Integration with our 401k provider
Customizable time off options
Clear employee dashboard

Customer service
ATS has limited customizable options, not an open API
Many features don't suit our needs, so it's not often used by non HR/Payroll employees

Key Insights

Do you think Paycor delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Paycor's feature set?

Did Paycor live up to sales and marketing promises?

Did implementation of Paycor go as expected?

Would you buy Paycor again?

Return on Investment

It seems Paycor grew too fast and wasn't able to adapt to the pandemic. Since 2020 it's been like pulling teeth to get a live person to respond to my issues and/or resolve them.
The limitations in customizing the system mean that I am still doing a lot of manual work, ie performance management, and onboarding.
As a payroll system, it's easy to learn, easy to use and works well.

Time Savings with Paycor

Our HR and/or payroll team has not had any measurable time savings. - It seems to function on a basic level, but because our procedures don't match the way Paycor's systems we are still doing a lot of manual work. The good news is that Paycor seems to recognize its shortcomings in the customer service department and is making some positive changes. They are constantly adding new features or optimizing existing ones.

Usability

Paycor does what I need it to do for the most part, but I am frustrated by its limitations. We had multiple hiccups with implementation, and until recently, reaching support was nearly impossible. Again, if your needs are basic with HR and Payroll, this may be suited to your needs. I also feel it's a program best suited for mid-size companies, and that ours may just be too small to be able to get the most out of it.

Alternatives Considered

Paylocity, TribeHR (discontinued) and SurePayroll

From my recent evaluations, it seems like (from my lens/my company's needs) Paylocity seems to have moved ahead in terms of adapting to the workforce over the past few years + general updates. Because it wasn't my choice to switch from Paylocity to Paycor, I can't speak to how it's better.

Likelihood to Recommend

This is a system that appears to have been designed for finance people, by finance people. If you need a solid system without bells and whistles, this is a good one to consider. Because our company puts a strong emphasis on culture and is tech/design/branding based, we expect our systems to reflect that, and that's where Paycor is lacking for us.

A basic system for mid-size companies who don't require culture or customization

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Paycor