Zenefits

Zenefits (now acquired and operating under TriNet) is one of the most famous (and historically dramatic) companies in the HR tech space. It literally invented the modern "freemium HR" model a decade ago by giving away its incredibly sleek HR software for free, and making all its money by acting as the digital insurance broker for the company. Today, under TriNet, it operates as a highly mature, heavily stabilized platform that retains its legendary ease-of-use. It completely digitizes the "Life Event" process. If an employee gets married, they don't have to email HR. They simply log into Zenefits, click "I got married," upload a cell phone picture of their marriage certificate, and the software automatically unlocks a 30-day window for them to add their new spouse to their dental plan. It also excels at complex compliance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires massive employers to mathematically prove they offered affordable health insurance to their staff via terrifying "1094-C and 1095-C" tax forms. Zenefits automatically tracks employee hours, calculates ACA eligibility in the background, and generates these legally mandated tax forms with a single click.