# Sage HCM Reviews **Vendor:** Sage Software **Category:** [HCM Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/hcm-software) **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 15 ## About Sage HCM Sage HCM (formerly known as Criterion HCM) is a comprehensive human capital management (HCM) platform designed to streamline human resources processes and enhance employee engagement within organizations. This innovative solution combines advanced technology with a user-friendly interface, enabling businesses to effectively address their unique human resource challenges. By leveraging built-in flexibility and an AI-driven approach, Sage HCM offers a tailored experience that caters to the specific needs of various enterprises. Primarily targeting medium to small enterprises, Sage HCM is particularly beneficial for HR professionals who seek to optimize their operations. The platform is equipped to manage complex HR tasks, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and compliance. By providing extensive features, Sage HCM empowers HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than being overwhelmed by administrative duties, ultimately fostering a more productive work environment. A notable feature of Sage HCM is its integration of artificial intelligence, which enhances the platform's adaptability and responsiveness. This AI-driven component learns from user interactions and organizational data, offering insights that assist HR professionals in making informed decisions. Furthermore, the platform's intuitive design ensures ease of navigation, thereby reducing the learning curve and promoting user adoption across the organization. This focus on usability is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of HR operations. Sage HCM also places a strong emphasis on delivering a return on investment (ROI) for its users. By simplifying complex HR tasks and automating repetitive processes, the platform significantly increases operational efficiency and minimizes the time spent on manual tasks. This efficiency not only leads to cost savings but also enhances employee satisfaction, as HR teams can allocate more time to value-added activities that improve the overall employee experience. With a proven track record of serving over 650 enterprise customers across more than ten countries, Sage HCM boasts a 97% customer satisfaction rate and a commitment to 100% uptime. This reliability, combined with its powerful features and user-centric design, positions Sage HCM as a leading choice for organizations aiming to transform their HR processes and cultivate a more engaged workforce. Industries such as construction, non-profit, energy, state and local government, tribal government, financial and professional services, education, franchises, and religious organizations all benefit from the capabilities offered by Sage HCM. ## Sage HCM Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users praise the **exceptional customer support** from Criterion HCM, noting its responsive and high-quality assistance throughout usage. (7 reviews) - Users commend the **high customizability** of Sage HCM, which effectively accommodates unique business rules and needs. (6 reviews) - Users appreciate the **user-friendly interface** of Sage HCM, which simplifies HR tasks and enhances overall efficiency. (5 reviews) - Users appreciate the **exceptional customer support** from Criterion, making HR tasks easier and more efficient. (5 reviews) - Users appreciate the **efficiency and accuracy** of Criterion HCM's payroll management, which simplifies complex processes seamlessly. (5 reviews) - Users value the **efficiency** of Criterion HCM, enhancing simplicity and organization in HR management tasks. (4 reviews) - Flexibility (4 reviews) - Intuitive (4 reviews) - Payroll (4 reviews) - Comprehensive Features (3 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users find **limited customization** challenging, especially for adjustments beyond basic tasks and in technical aspects. (2 reviews) - Users notice that the **slow loading** in Sage HCM occasionally affects their experience, although it’s not a major concern. (2 reviews) - Users experience **software glitches** that disrupt functionality and hinder customization, impacting overall satisfaction with Sage HCM. (2 reviews) - Users report **time clock issues** and occasional system lag, which can affect overall efficiency and experience. (2 reviews) - Users report **admin limitations** with Sage HCM, including glitches that disrupt important data and processes. (1 reviews) - Users experience **dashboard issues** with Criterion HCM, noting inflexibility and occasional sluggishness affecting usability. (1 reviews) - Date Issues (1 reviews) - Document Management (1 reviews) - Users experience **feature absence** with Criterion, facing glitches that affect important functionalities and time management. (1 reviews) - Users struggle with **integration issues** , as flexibility and report distribution can be challenging and time-consuming. (1 reviews) ## Sage HCM Reviews ### 1. Effortless Expense Management with Sage HCM **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Grace C. | Coordinator of Internal Operations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I like the ability to take a picture of the receipt and text it to the Sage number, which attaches it to the expense. It's extremely easy to use and is set up for easy use by the rest of our organization to submit their reports efficiently. I also like the ability for it to grab amounts and select expenses that belong on the report, which cuts down on receipts needed for proof of purchase and eliminates steps to upload and attach them to the correct expense. The initial setup of Sage HCM was easy. I was recently hired and trained to use it—and have trained other employees to do the same—and I also got them set up with the receipt texts and added the Sage extension to their email. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** there is nothing I dislike about sage. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sage HCM helps us accurately code expenses, eliminating the need for one person to code all transactions, and cuts down on steps to upload receipts. It's easy to use, allowing us to efficiently submit company-wide expenses by taking pictures of receipts and attaching them automatically. ### 2. Unified, Customizable Payroll Platform with Stellar Support **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ajith K. **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I appreciate how Criterion HCM facilitates payroll processing, making it quicker, more accurate, and less manual. Its ability to handle complex pay calculations and ensure tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions is particularly impressive. I value its unified architecture and how it acts as our single platform for all HR, payroll, and benefits, as well as time and attendance needs, negating the need for integration with other tools. The system's high configurability suits unique business rules well, especially for mid-market companies like ours. I am truly impressed by the dedicated, responsive, and high-quality customer support from Criterion HCM, which contrasts favorably with our previous experience with an enterprise provider. The initial setup process was intuitive and well-managed, allowing us to smoothly transition despite our complex HR needs. Criterion HCM proves to be a powerful, stable, and truly unified system that has effectively resolved our most intricate payroll and compliance challenges. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** I have experienced occasional slowness or lagging within the Criterion HCM system, although it's not a major issue. Additionally, I have faced some time clock issues. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Criterion HCM to efficiently handle complex payroll processing and tax compliance, thanks to its high configurability and unified architecture, reducing manual work. The dedicated support ensures smooth operations and personalized assistance, crucial for our mid-market company. ### 3. Helpful for Organizing Unpopular Client Tasks, but Could Be More User-Friendly **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kelsea S. | Accounting Outsourcing Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 29, 2026 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** Organizes tasks the clients typically don’t enjoy most. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Not as user friendly as some competitor products. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Cost effective solution on for clients ### 4. Streamlined, Customizable, and Surprisingly Easy **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nicole H. | HCM Implementation Consultant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I’ve worked with a wide range of HCM solutions throughout my career, and Criterion HCM truly stands out as a scalable, user-friendly, and highly configurable platform that meets the complex demands of modern HR operations. I first implemented Criterion in my role as an HR Generalist at a social services organization with approximately 250 employees. We were a lean HR team managing a high volume of transactional, reactionary, and compliance-related tasks. Adopting Criterion allowed us to operationalize efficiency by leveraging workflow automation, self-service functionality, and role-based access controls. The platform enabled us to decentralize HR processes, empowering managers and employees to own their experience and access information that mattered to them. Payroll was previously a highly manual, time-consuming process that left little room for flexibility or transparency. As a result, we were effectively locked into a rigid compensation structure that didn’t reflect the nuanced contributions of our employees or allow for differentiated rewards. This not only created inefficiencies, but also contributed to a perception that compensation wasn’t aligned with performance or value. With Criterion, we were able to automate payroll processes, apply complex pay rules, and generate real-time visibility into how employees worked and got paid, enabling the ability to be more equitable and responsive. Over the past three years, I’ve moved into an HCM Implementation Consultant role doing implementations of Criterion every day, and remain impressed by its flexibility and effectiveness across industries. Overall, Criterion HCM strikes the perfect balance between functionality and flexibility. It’s a robust system that scales with your organization and enables HR to move from administrative execution to strategic impact. If you're looking to reduce administrative burden, enhance employee experience, and modernize your HRIS ecosystem—Criterion delivers. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Because Criterion is so flexible and open-ended, a strong implementation team is essential. If you're not clear on your internal processes or don’t have the right support, you might miss opportunities to fully optimize the system. Fortunately, once it’s set up properly, it runs beautifully. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** In my role as an HR Generalist, having one central location for employees to log in and access everything—from pay stubs to timesheets to forms—has been a huge improvement. It’s streamlined communication and reduced confusion across the board. Payroll has been especially transformative. What used to take over six hours with tons of manual entry and double-checking now takes less than an hour, thanks to a much more cohesive and intuitive payroll process that brings all day-to-day functionality into one place. One feature that’s often overlooked—but incredibly valuable—is the auto make-up for benefit deductions. This has been a game-changer for tracking repayment plans or catching up on missed deductions while employees are on leave or have fluctuating pay. It eliminates the need to manually track these items and ensures accurate deductions without additional administrative overhead. It’s a small feature that solves a very real problem—and it works seamlessly. The electronic onboarding tools have made setting up new hires faster and more consistent, and mobile access has improved form completion and overall employee engagement. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > We're thrilled to hear that Criterion HCM has had such a positive impact on your HR operations and payroll processes. Thank you for sharing your experience and highlighting the platform's scalability, user-friendliness, and configurability. We're committed to providing a solution that empowers HR teams to streamline their processes and make a strategic impact. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 5. Convenient and easy to learn and use, Criterion has it all! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aleah B. | Human Resources Director, Non-Profit Organization Management, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** the ability to have all of the employees information, payroll, timesheets, and company reports at the tips of my fingers. And each year, the Criterion team strives to make it better based on customer reviews. I also like how efficient the help desk is. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Criterion has many great things, but we have had issues with the system glitching in the past and either removing something important or changing something. We have also had a few issues with the end of year time accruing and roll over, but the support team was able to help us through that and found a solution. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is giving companies the ability to have one system that holds all of our information. Not only can we keep the HR files and complete payroll, we can do evaluations and it has recruiting capabilites. We are also able to keep track of our turn over though the system and it lets us know if it is down or up. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > It's great to hear that Criterion HCM is helping you streamline your HR processes and providing recruiting capabilities. We're committed to solving the problems you encounter and are pleased to hear that the system is benefiting your company by providing a centralized platform for all your information and tracking turnover. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 6. Criterion is very flexible. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jessica R. | Staff Accountant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 27, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I previously worked with Criterion during my tenure with the government. During our implementation and integration, the Criterion team was very flexible and understanding. Every module is easy to follow and when there was a question, the customer support team would quickly respond. Criterion provides all the features needed in HR. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** During the role out, we didn't have enough training on the Learning Module. Even though we didnt have enough training on this particular module, we did receive plenty of training on the remainder of the modules. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Criterion was working on many items for the agency I worked for. For example: they worked on all of the special requirements within our payroll system. ### 7. All in one HR system **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Georgios (George) A. | Senior Technical Talent Acquisition Specialist, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I like the most that everything is gather together, and everything works well together. Other HR systems feel that they added the functions one by one, but Criterion keep everything connected well versed. Easy to use, and easy to figure out, with a lot of flexibility for different types of businesses. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Customization is tricky. I like how you can tailor stuff based on your business, but sometime it takes more time than you would expect. If you are not good with technology or have someone dedicated to doing that, in might be an issue. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Everything is linked so there is less manual work and there are fewer errors. Payroll syncs with HR Data so compliance is easier to track, and you don't have to do all the admin tasks and waste your time on it. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > We appreciate your positive feedback on Criterion HCM's integration and ease of use. We understand the challenges with customization and are working to make this process more seamless for our users. Thank you for highlighting the benefits our system has brought to your business. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 8. Very Flexible tool **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Construction | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** Criterion HCM has the ability to customize alot of very complicated payroll rules. We have alot of very process intensive rules that require a trusted rules engine. Criterion has been able to handle these in most cases and has worked with us when we need to modify them, **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Implementation took longer than expected, but this could have been scope changes or not fully grasping the complicated rules we needed. Otherwise the integration was pretty good. Eventually we were able to get all our rules accounted for. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** We used to do everything either manually or with Sage, this gives us better flexibility- especially its ability to work with ACUMATICA **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > It's great to hear that Criterion HCM has provided you with better flexibility and integration, especially in working with ACUMATICA. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 9. Easy to use. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Giorgos V. | Senior Tech Partner | IT & Data | Benelux, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** What I like most about Criterion HCM is how easy it makes managing everything in one place. It’s user-friendly, keeps things organized, and helps save time by simplifying processes like payroll, performance tracking, and employee data. It just makes HR tasks smoother and more efficient. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** What I don’t like is that some parts aren’t very flexible. It works fine for basic tasks, but if you want to adjust things your way, it can be tricky. Sometimes it also runs a bit slow or has small glitches. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Criterion HCM helps by keeping everything in one place – like payroll, employee info, and performance tracking. It saves time, reduces paperwork, and makes things easier to manage. It also helps avoid mistakes and keeps things running smoothly. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > Giorgos, We're elated that you're able to use our platform and find it easy to have all things in one place. We've heard over and over again how Criterion HCM brings many hours per week and helps people gain efficiency. We take your feedback seriously and look forward to doing more with you as we expand our platform and enhance our flexibility you'd love to see. Very valuable feedback! ### 10. The implementation process with Criterion has been outstanding. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 22, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** The customer support is exceptional. The developers are always implementing improvements based on client input. We use the system every day all day and we have not been disappointed. Our employees are 'tech-shy' but Criterion doesn't scare them ad it is easy for them to understand. We have been able to integrate with other systems. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** So far I have had nothing but a positive experience. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** A single system of record for all HR systems. We look forward to adding the payroll feature in the future. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > What incredible news! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We strive to make each and every one of our customers feel like you're getting the care and attention you deserve. Thank you for being such a fantastic part of Criterion's success! ### 11. Outstanding Customer service **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Shannon H. | Payroll Supervisor, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** Their customer service and response time. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Need some flexibility in report distribution to our management team by location. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Giving our employees easier access to review their information. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > We are glad to hear that you are benefiting from easier access to information for your employees. We will take your feedback about report distribution into account as we strive to provide comprehensive solutions for all our clients. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 12. Convenient **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Environmental Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2024 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** its easy to post my PTO and check to see how much ive worked. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** A little confusing where everything is still. but overall a good tool for work **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Its solving the tracking of our checks, pto, days worked, etc. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > We're pleased to hear that Criterion HCM is helping you track your PTO and work hours effectively. We understand that finding certain features may be confusing at times, and we're actively working on enhancing the platform's usability. Thank you for your valuable feedback! Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 13. Manager **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Accounting | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 11, 2023 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** All healthcare in one place instead of over a few platforms **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Nothing to dislike at this moment new to this program **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** Solved an unstable platforms that we were using and put everything in one place to make it easier for end user **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Criterion HCM. We're committed to providing a user-friendly and efficient platform for healthcare management. If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvement in the future, feel free to let us know. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 14. HR solution **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Construction | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 12, 2022 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** Their staff is pretty responsive. The program will hopefully do what we need it to! **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** Alot of hiccups. I know implementing a new HR program is no easy task, but there seems to be alot of weird programming errors. **Recommendations to others considering Sage HCM:** Not everything was as custom or easy as the salesman said. Make sure 90% of this program will work out of the box. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** We needed a new HR program. Once it is working, it seems that it will be a great fit! **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased that our staff has been responsive and that you see potential in our program. We apologize for the hiccups and programming errors you've experienced. We are constantly working to improve our product. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ### 15. Best Human Capital Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Moses N. | HR Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 22, 2021 **What do you like best about Sage HCM?** I have used this Human Capital Management tool and it works really well. Everything from deployment, features, understanding the many features, and customization is seamless. Criterion HCM makes handling HR issues easy and it is a must have. **What do you dislike about Sage HCM?** So far so good with Criterion HCM. It has always surpassed my expectation. **Recommendations to others considering Sage HCM:** Criterion HCM is one of the best HR solutions I have used and it works perfectly. I would recommend it anytime for businesses looking for a human capital management tool. **What problems is Sage HCM solving and how is that benefiting you?** This is a our to go tool when it comes to human capital management. I have used the tool in the HR department and I can say it works perfectly. **Official Response from Brett Schklar:** > We're thrilled to hear that you've had such a positive experience with Criterion HCM! Thank you for sharing your feedback. Thank you for being a part of the Criterion HCM Success! ## Sage HCM Discussions - [What is Criterion HCM used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-criterion-hcm-used-for) - [View Sage HCM pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/sage-hcm/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-13+09%3A24%3A55+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=c76db4fe-a08d-440b-a923-3d027916fea5&secure%5Btoken%5D=aeec6cee11e06727a8db5340cbf0b279dd51306c1e810fe395457a8117d2b624&format=llm_user) ## Sage HCM Integrations - [Acumatica](https://www.g2.com/products/acumatica/reviews) - [Procore](https://www.g2.com/products/procore/reviews) ## Sage HCM Features **Core HR** - Organization Management - Time, Attendance, and PTO - Expense Management - Salary Structures - Compliance - Benefits Administration **Employee Self Service** - Web Portal - Benefits Manager - Mobile **Performance reviews** - 360 Reviews - Customizable Forms - Review Status Tracking **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization **Administration** - Payroll Entry - Time Off Accrual - Direct Deposit - Expense Reimbursement - Pre-tax Deductions - Wage Garnishment - Approvals - Check/W-2 Printing - Check/W-2 Delivery **Goals** - Goal-Setting - Company Goals And OKRs **Generative AI** - AI Text Summarization **Taxes** - Tax Calculation - Tax Filing - Automatic Tax Payment **Feedback** - Continuous Feedback - Requesting Feedback - 1-On-1 Meetings - Public Praise **Integration** - API / Integration - Time Tracking Integration - Accounting Integration - Core HR Integration **Data** - Dashboards And Reports - Historical Data **Platform** - Customization - Integration APIs - Internationalization - User, Role, and Access Management - Performance - Mobility - Reporting - Dashboards **Platform** - Reporting and Dashboards - User, Role, and Access Management - Performance and Reliability - Scalability **Agentic AI - Performance Management** - Multi-step Planning - Natural Language Interaction ## Top Sage HCM Alternatives - [Paylocity](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (5,206 reviews) - [BambooHR](https://www.g2.com/products/bamboohr/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (4,488 reviews) - [UKG Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/ukg-pro/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (2,138 reviews)