How Justworks Helps Small Businesses Grow Around the World
There’s a customer-obsessed atmosphere that defines working at Justworks, a company that offers small- and medium-sized businesses HR support, payroll, benefits and compliance functions all in one platform.
“Whether it’s a payroll associate, a software engineer or a customer success manager, everyone shares the same purpose: helping our customers navigate the complexities of hiring and paying people, both in the United States and across the globe,” Diego Baston, senior manager of international operations, said.
Baston has worked at Justworks since 2023, when his former employer, international employment platform Via, was acquired by the global payroll company.
In fact, the two companies’ missions and values aligned so closely, Baston often tells people he doesn’t know when his time at Via ended and his journey at Justworks began.
“At both companies, we’ve always cared deeply about our customers,” he said.
How Justworks’ Mission Drives Everyday Impact
Some companies see “small” as a stepping stone. Not Justworks, said Vice President of Product Julia D’Amico.
“We’ve built our entire company around the grit and ambition that make small businesses one of a kind,” she said.
This noble mission is upheld by five core values: Camaraderie, Openness, Grit, Integrity, and Simplicity. According to D’Amico, the company puts these values into action in different ways, but it all starts with the people it hires.
“We’ve found that so many talented, kind people have been yearning to work at a company where the work matters and where we hold ourselves to high, specific and shared standards in how we work with one another,” she said.
Justworks’ employees are encouraged to continuously find new ways to bring its mission to life, inspired by a universal motivation to do more.
“At Justworks, we are empowered to look beyond our daily roles and proactively identify opportunities that will help small businesses grow,” Director of Government Affairs Tricia Russo said.
To ensure its people are empowered to discover new opportunities, the company offers them the benefits of both structure and flexibility.
“We’re empowered to pursue the projects we believe are most important and impactful, as long as we stay grounded in one core question: Will this help our customers have a better experience and simplify the complex employment challenges they face?” Baston said. “This balance allows us to stay creative and proactive while always aligning our work with the company’s mission of helping businesses focus on what truly matters — their growth.”
“We’re empowered to pursue the projects we believe are most important and impactful.”
Justworks’ employees have accomplished a wide range of feats over the years, such as the work they’ve done since the pandemic to support small businesses. After Congress established the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help businesses retain employees despite Covid-19 disruptions, delays in processing claims kept many small businesses from receiving the relief they were promised.
To support these businesses, Justworks traveled to Washington D.C. in 2024 with seven of their customers to meet with lawmakers to push for a solution.
“This advocacy successfully accelerated the disbursement of approximately $90 million to many of our customers, and we maintain ongoing legislative engagement to secure the remaining funds owed,” Russo said.
Inside Justworks’ Culture of Initiative and Transparency
D’Amico said team culture is an “infinite game” in which the main objective is to keep the game moving forward.
“In life, unlike in sports, the rules and the players are always changing, and there isn’t a moment in time where the game ends and a winner is declared,” she said. “So, while we’re incredibly motivated by driving impact and outcomes, we do it with a long-range view in mind.”
To keep people motivated, Justworks relies on culture-building traditions like ‘52 Fridays,’ a practice that involves the team setting a goal that should be reached by the end of each week.
“It’s my favorite way to make sure we’re driving impact at pace and building together,” D’Amico said. At the end of the week, she and her teammates reflect on whether or not they accomplished the goal, while acknowledging other wins and preparing for the week ahead.
For Baston, building culture comes down to one critical value: honesty. Whether he’s discussing new goals or reflecting on challenges, transparency defines his actions.
“I believe that trust and open communication are the foundation for everything else,” Baston said.
With professional relationships built on trust, Justworks employees feel empowered to take initiative and make decisions that align with the company’s mission: to help businesses and entrepreneurs grow with confidence.
Why Employees Thrive in Justworks’ Mission-Driven Environment
A year ago, Baston moved from Mexico City to New York, which gave him the chance to experience Justworks’ culture in different parts of the world. From that experience, he realized just how many common threads are woven throughout the company’s five offices.
“What stands out the most to me is how genuinely supported everyone feels by their colleagues, and how that support translates directly into the work we do,” Baston said. “There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and collaboration that makes us believe we can solve any challenge for our customers.”
Every day, Baston wakes up with a deep sense of purpose, knowing that he’s playing a part in shaping the future of work by helping companies manage and support their distributed global teams. And the best part? That he gets to accomplish this work alongside “smart, humble” people.
“At Justworks, our mission of helping small businesses grow with confidence is not just a bunch of words on paper; it is something that we are all passionate about,” Russo said. “Justworks is a place where employees work together with a true sense of purpose.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Justworks’ mission?
To help small and mid-sized businesses grow with confidence by simplifying payroll, benefits, HR and compliance through a single platform.
What makes Justworks’ culture unique?
A foundation of openness, camaraderie and purpose — where employees have autonomy to pursue impactful projects and are recognized for their initiative.
What values guide the company?
Camaraderie, Openness, Grit, Integrity and Simplicity — values that drive teamwork and customer success.
How does Justworks empower its employees?
Through transparency, flexible project ownership and an environment that celebrates creativity, trust and measurable customer impact.
