Ready to train your team like a pro?
Whether you’re onboarding new hires or upskilling current employees, Gusto Training gives you everything you need in one place.
From interactive learning paths to certificates and performance tracking it’s not just training, it’s smart employee development. 💼
🎯 In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up, use, and get the most out of Gusto Learning for your team step by step.
🚀 Let’s make training easy, engaging, and productive!
What is Gusto Learning? & Why It Matters for Your Team
Gusto Training, also called Gusto Learning, is an easy-to-use employee training system built directly into the Gusto platform. You don’t need any third-party LMS or manual trackers Gusto does it all. From onboarding new hires to teaching compliance basics and upskilling your team, it keeps everything organized in one place.
Gusto Training helps small and medium-sized businesses:
- Deliver courses to employees and contractors
- Track who completed what
- Automatically send reminders
- Award certificates after quizzes
By using this tool, your HR team saves time, your new hires feel confident from Day 1, and your company stays compliant with legal requirements.
Why this topic goes first: It sets the foundation for the entire blog and hooks both employers and HR professionals looking for an all-in-one training solution.
How to Set Up a New Gusto Training (For Admins)
Here’s the official step-by-step method for setting up a Gusto Learning training as shown on Gusto’s help page:
- Log into your Gusto admin profile
- Navigate to the “People” tab and select “Learning”
- Choose the training module and click “See course info”
- Review the course details
- Click “Assign team members”
- Select the employees you want to enroll
- Set a deadline and click “Continue”
- Review and click “Purchase”
Once enrolled, team members get:
- An email with course info
- A link to complete training
- A “To-Do” task in their Gusto dashboard
This flow is quick, easy, and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
How Employees Access & Complete Courses in Gusto
Gusto makes it easy for employees to start and complete courses, even if they’re not tech-savvy. Here’s how it works:
- When you assign a course, your employee receives an email or dashboard alert.
- They click on “Start Course” and begin right inside their Gusto account.
- Progress is saved automatically, so they can pause and return anytime.
- Once they complete a quiz, Gusto unlocks a downloadable certificate.
If a course is overdue, Gusto gently reminds them via email. No follow-ups from managers needed the system handles it for you.
This smooth, intuitive experience encourages higher course completion rates.
Different Training Methods You Can Use with Gusto
Gusto supports multiple types of learning styles. That means you’re not stuck with just videos or PDFs.
Here are common methods businesses use with Gusto:
- Self-paced learning: Employees complete courses at their convenience.
- On-the-job training: Combine shadowing with assigned training topics.
- Live sessions: Use webinars or Zoom meetings, then track completion in Gusto.
- Microlearning: Break down topics into short, engaging lessons.
- Compliance-focused learning: Includes mandatory topics like workplace harassment or cybersecurity.
By mixing methods, you cater to all personality types from quiet learners to hands-on doers.
6 Recommended Online Courses to Upskill Your Team with Gusto
Using Gusto Learning doesn’t mean you’re limited to built-in training.
You can also recommend or assign external courses that boost your team’s knowledge and confidence. Here are six online courses (some free!) you can use alongside Gusto:
1. Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Perfect for marketing teams or small business owners. Free and certified.
2. Harvard’s Management Essentials (edX)
A great choice for new managers looking to build leadership skills.
3. Udemy: Time Management for the Overwhelmed
Helps improve productivity for remote or hybrid teams.
4. Coursera: Conflict Resolution Skills
Useful for building team culture and handling tough conversations.
5. Lynda/LinkedIn Learning: Critical Thinking
Improves strategic thinking across all departments.
6. Harvard CS50: Intro to Computer Science
Ideal for beginners in tech roles or anyone curious about programming.
💡 Tip: Assign these as optional training in Gusto by linking them as custom tasks or sharing them during performance reviews.
Smart Onboarding with Gusto’s Employee Training Checklist
Hiring new people is exciting but also overwhelming. Gusto’s training checklist helps simplify onboarding by listing step-by-step what each new hire needs to do:
- Upload documents
- Review policies
- Take compliance training
- Set up payroll info
- Start role-specific courses
Everything appears clearly in the employee’s dashboard. HR teams can track who completed which task and gently nudge those who haven’t.
A smooth onboarding process creates confidence in new hires and saves you from common HR headaches.
Tracking Employee Training Progress & Performance
With Gusto Plus or Premium, you get access to performance goal tracking. This feature helps you set clear learning expectations and track real-time progress.
You can:
- Assign training goals for each role or department
- Monitor who completed what
- See quiz scores and certificates
- Use training progress in performance reviews
This brings accountability to your training process and helps managers guide their team’s growth not just guess it.
Compliance Training & Certificate Management
Need to ensure your team finishes required workplace safety or anti-harassment courses? Gusto includes compliance-focused training modules.
After completing a course and passing the quiz, employees receive a downloadable certificate. These certificates are time-stamped and stored digitally perfect for audits or legal verification.
If a course is time-sensitive (like sexual harassment training in California), Gusto will send auto-reminders to finish it before the deadline.
This feature gives you peace of mind that your business is protected.
Gusto Learning Integrations That Save Time
Gusto connects seamlessly with your existing tools like:
- HR systems (BambooHR, Zenefits)
- Project management tools
- Goal-setting apps
- Performance review platforms
This means your training, onboarding, and reviews are all connected. No more exporting spreadsheets or chasing emails.
These integrations make Gusto a powerful all-in-one HR and training solution.
Key Benefits of Using Gusto for Employee Development
Let’s summarize the biggest advantages of using Gusto Learning:
- Saves Time:
Training, reminders, and progress tracking are automated. - Reduces Errors:
Fewer onboarding or compliance mistakes. - Improves Engagement:
Employees love how easy and self-paced the system is.
- Builds Culture:
When everyone grows together, your workplace becomes stronger. - Improves Retention:
Learning = loyalty. Teams stay longer when they feel invested in.
If you’re building a people-first company, Gusto makes sure your training efforts don’t get lost in busywork.
Best Practices to Maximize Gusto Training
Here’s how to make Gusto Training more effective for your team:
- Start training on day one to build momentum.
- Use short, focused courses attention spans are shorter than ever.
- Recognize employees who complete training early or score well.
- Schedule monthly check-ins to update goals and assign new topics.
- Customize learning paths based on roles not everyone needs the same content.
This keeps your training program active, efficient, and appreciated by your team.
Conclusion: Train Smarter, Not Harder with Gusto
Gusto Training is more than just a bonus feature it’s your built-in path to a more capable, confident team.
From simple onboarding checklists to complete performance tracking, it gives you all the tools to grow your team without adding complexity.
If you already use Gusto for payroll or HR, you’re just one click away from launching your own learning system.
👉 Ready to start? Head to your Gusto dashboard, assign a training module, and empower your employees to grow today.
FAQs
1. Can I upload my own custom training materials to Gusto Learning?
As of now, Gusto does not support uploading your own custom training videos or PDFs. You can assign available courses or link to external content using tasks or onboarding checklists.
2. Do employees need to log in separately for Gusto Learning?
No, employees can access all training directly through their existing Gusto dashboard no separate login or third-party portal is required.
3. Can contractors access Gusto training courses?
Yes, Gusto Learning is available for US contractors and international contractors who have an active Gusto profile, just like regular employees.
4. Does Gusto charge extra for each training course?
Yes, while all Gusto plans have access to the Learning feature, each course has its own price and is billed on your monthly Gusto invoice.
5. Can I track who has completed training in real time?
Yes, admins can monitor employee progress, check quiz completions, and download training reports—all from the Gusto dashboard in real time.