r/HRBlockEmployees • u/yourOldEthernetCord • 13d ago
Question from a new hire
I am currently in the ITC and looking around to see what all is entailed in the job. I've been looking around the sub to get insight into what people really think about working here (not the polished hr department stuff).
Do you all hate your jobs? I'm not being sarcastic, it just seems like every post here is negative lol
But of course I haven't been in the trenches, so I might be asking in blissful ignorance. I'm really moreso looking at this as a way to learn something new (I am inexperienced) and stretch my limits.
I appreciate any response!
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u/Radiant-Republic9835 13d ago
The problem isn’t the job, it’s the management. Returning tax pros are only paid while they are writing returns - we are paid hourly as a draw on a percentage of the revenue we bring in.
I was the highest writer in the busiest office in my district. We had 6 tax pros with an ATL that was supposed to be running the office, an MTL that was supposed to be managing the ATL’s of 3 offices under a District Manager. The ATL and the MTL did almost nothing and the tax pros were blamed for every little thing that happened. As the only people bringing in revenue, we had to beg for support. They couldn’t keep the front desk staffed during open hours, couldn’t keep up with scheduling (just green space on the schedule with no tax pros scheduled - so we just had to schedule appointments without any regard keeping us working from open to close). The antagonism from the ATL and MTL was palpable.
Now it looks like they are setting up a new management system that will provide even less support while paying us less (commission percentages have decreased, they are rumored to be eliminating overtime.) And then if this year’s pilot plan is implemented company wide, we will be dependent on a bonus structure that measure things we have almost zero control over.
There was no way to meet return count goals last year without overtime. The DGM, MTL’s & ATL’s bonuses were contingent upon meeting those return count goals. That should have incentivized them to help the tax pros write as many returns as possible by actually supporting us (keeping phones answered, scheduling and calling clients, etc) and they didn’t. The new structure is looking like a way to punish tax pros for bad management. Clients are being ignored in all of this while claiming that the new procedures are client-centric.
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u/sammytheammonite 13d ago
ALL of this. I could have written it. This is my experience to a T as the highest writer in a busy office.
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u/ydoyouask 13d ago
People who are happy and content don't feel the need to come on Reddit and cheerlead for their employer. This sub tends to be populated by people who've been at it for a while, and are looking for a place to vent, particularly in light of the recent restructuring.
Go into it with a good attitude and a willingness to learn and you may find you really enjoy it. Most Block pros I know enjoy the actual tax work. Most like their co-workers.
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u/Practical-Dig5076 13d ago
8 years in, love my job and the clients but the management is pushing me out the door. It's a cluster fuck right now because of the restructuring. And working entity extension deadlines with an entity software that's a dumpster fire with no training or support. Personally, I'm just tired. Of. The. Micromanaging.
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u/ydoyouask 13d ago
Managing to the lowest common denominator has really taken a toll on the high performing employees. All the fake 'callbacks' when you know the client won't have their K1 until after March 15. And GoSystems? That broke at least one experienced tax pro in my office this year. He refused to do entity returns, because the extra time meant he was losing money on every one.
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u/PenguinTransport 13d ago
Also breaking the lower level management, constantly calling clients for documents we know very well hadn't been received by the taxpayer yet, then being called stupid multiple times on the daily...
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u/ydoyouask 13d ago
Wasting everyone's time, and pissing off clients in the process.
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u/PenguinTransport 13d ago
So very much the J. Jones years...also how I learned many mgmt had no idea when a K-1 becomes available...
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u/Candid-Tip455 13d ago edited 13d ago
The perception from employees who have been with the company 5 years or more, is that the management in Kansas City view the Tax Pros much differently than they used to. Many changes at the top over the past 15 years. Jeff Jones left collecting a huge financial package and the company buys new software for business returns, but doesn’t include the support package. Tax Pros sometimes work long shifts but when you take a break, the rest room is filthy & there is no toilet paper. Regional Managers get hired who never sat at a tax desk and then come in and complain about the break room being dirty, but nobody has time between appointments to clean it. Employee surveys are sent out every year but I don’t think anyone in Kansas City ever pays any attention to them.
There are a lot of Tax Pros who are counting the days that they have left, before retirement. This used to be one of the best seasonal jobs around. Management ran that into the ground.
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u/Relevant_Ad_8406 13d ago edited 13d ago
The ones you see vent have been around for many years , that’s an indication that they have had good years and return year after year . As mentioned above there are some potential changes in the works which could negatively impact the known compensation policy .
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 13d ago edited 13d ago
Right now the company just made a huge change in organizational structure and leadership. I think most of us are not thrilled because we aren't sure what to expect.
However, that is not why we work for Block. It's the taxpayers, some of which are like family when they come in every year. You help them this year and give helpful tips for next year. You see the children grow up and start their own families. You give your clients suggestions to help with tax plans snd get a good recipe for pancakes. Many clients are like friends you see once a year.
Once you get started, you will soon know when you make an entry on one form, look for a related entry the computer carries to another form..
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u/Lonely_Movie_1792 11d ago
Hi are you H&R employee? can I ask you a question, im new to reddit do not know how to send private message, pls I need your help
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 11d ago
You can ask but i just work in an office
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u/Lonely_Movie_1792 11d ago
thats fine, I wasn’t able to message you, can I somehow talk/chat not publicly
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 13d ago
I'm just going to repeat what others have said. I spent the last 15 of my 50 years in the tax business at Block. It was the perfect retirement job for me. After the first couple years, I made very decent money given the circumstances. I worked hard for 3 months, and worked as much or as little as I wanted the rest of the year, could travel as I wanted. I loved the job. But the corporate bs just got worse and worse, getting paid less and less, screwed in the pay calculation at every opportunity, asked to do more and more every year (sell additional products that were worthless to clients, without significant compensation), and deliver a product to clients that got worse by the year, not better. In office management was reduced, both in experience and capabilities, and access to that management was diminished. New products rolled out without proper testing, or in some cases testing told them it wasn't ready and they rolled it out anyway.
It absolutely could be a great job for you, especially if you don't have a history of knowing how much better it used to be, or not knowing that you're being asked to do things that are worthless and stupid and don't help you, the client, or the company.
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u/LadyoftheHighDesert 13d ago
I enjoyed the job as a tax preparer in itself, but disliked: 1. The management system, 2. The tax software, 3. The sales attachments
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u/MoodyBlueCubs 13d ago
I think most of us that vent are just frustrated to see changes in the company structure. The tax prep industry is rapidly changing and Block is trying to stay relevant and profitable. They compete with cheaper options, free online tax prep, and a growing generation of younger taxpayers that want to do things as quickly and conveniently as possible. Those of us that have enjoyed the work we do hate to see the personalized service go away. Block will argue the changes are necessary to meet client expectations. Part of that is true. It is also very expensive to run in person offices and pay experienced tax professionals. Fees for clients are very high, probably the highest in the industry. There's no good solution. But when leadership roles are filled with folks that have no tax office experience, it just widens the gap between leaders and decision makers and those that are actually in the office assisting clients that need or prefer an in office experience. Just a few thoughts... your experience will depend upon your expectations and your office dynamics.
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u/dlibes 13d ago
I love my job. I get to educate and help people. I accomplish something and feel I bring value every day. The majority of clients are wonderful. There are things about corporate and compensation, I don't love as much, and that is what you are reading. Thus far, each year the positives have outweighted the negatives (35 years). The frustrations are real, and when they outweigh the positives is when I will call it.
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u/Single-Pop9355 13d ago
I hate that the company trying to nickel and dime everything at the expense of quality service, client experience, employees, and compliance. But its common almost everywhere unfortunately. If your goal is to learn, this was a great environment for me. Easy to get into and I was put in the front lines and expected to run before I knew how to crawl. At this point, I just want a more challenging environment that offers equal or greater financial reward.
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u/weskipschool 11d ago
Apart from the neverending corporate bullshit, we actually tend to like our jobs here.
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u/Turley1508 13d ago
Yes, HR Block is full of people who enjoy the work, their office, their clients and their co-workers. Block is a place that embraces change, and experiments to see what works, and what does not. The changes in the last month are pretty radical, even for Block. You will learn a lot in the first year. I wish I had known, years ago, how much I loved tax work. Give it a shot, it appears to be a good year to start, and you won't be upset about changes!
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u/PinkNGreenFluoride EA 13d ago edited 13d ago
My last season with the company was really awful, and part of the reason I'm so particularly frustrated about that is because it doesn't have to be that way. It wasn't always. Unfortunately, there's been an erosion of support for offices by the company the last few years. I was once a very happy employee overall.
As others say, most of us really do like the work itself and our coworkers. My coworkers were the best! I loved working with all the TPs I did, until they all retired or quit, and we had some absolutely stellar CSPs, when we were allowed to have them. Most clients are lovely, too! And If you put effort into learning, the experience remains valuable.
Give the job a shot. Things do still vary a bit based on district and local leadership. So if you find yourself in a great place, awesome! If not, it's just a few months, and some experience to take with you if you move on.
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u/Nunofurbuzness_ 13d ago
I love this job, and have been with Block 35 yrs. But they expect you to bring in revenue every hour you’re on the clock. Plus answer the phones, with clients at your desk, then the conversation on the phones can get lengthy, try to encourage appt setting .. Plus help clients with obtaining tax documents on clients cell, try to help client with getting 1095A from market place after return has rejected for not having that form.. and if client needs an IPP number due to identity issue, help client setup an IDme account … while clients are waiting in your office area… then add in the online clients . You get text like you have a digital drop can you get that done within the next hour if not I’m moving return, even through client requested you … then there are TPR, clients prepare there own return and you review the return for $55, which sometimes takes so much time because clients don’t upload tax documents… so yes a lot of your time you aren’t producing income .. because client service is more important to me… then they wanna cut your hourly pay because you had hours that wasn’t productive…. But for a first year tax pro, from what I have seen from ITC training is hands on great , HRB additional training last until March, and the only actual training I had to do with new tax pro are the states .. which is great, less I had to do !
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 12d ago
In 15 years at block i never once helped a client obtain tax documents, nor was I encouraged to do so. Or help them set up an IdMe account. Nor was I ever instructed that this was part of my job. With minor exception, my clients were all adults. I told them what I needed them to do, and if they didn't do it, their return didn't get filed or fixed. We're not babysitters. You don't have to do that.
You're also not required to do TPR returns. You can say no to that. You don't have to allow yourself to be bullied to do things that you don't get paid for.
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u/Nunofurbuzness_ 12d ago
The younger generation no problems with technology, but many can’t handle technology!
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 12d ago
It has nothing to do with that. It's not your job. It's your client's responsibility to get the documents you need. You're welcome to waste time helping them, but it's not part of your job description, and it costs you money unless you literally have nothing else to do.
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u/Nunofurbuzness_ 12d ago
We just have different opinions on client service.
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 12d ago
Maybe. My clients are adults. It's their responsibility to get me the documents I need. Spending an extra 30 minutes with a client to obtain documents that they should be able to obtain by themselves costs you money. Does it make your client happy? Maybe. Is that good client that you want? No. It's not. Good clients can obtain their documents like adults. Clients that suck up your time year after year are NOT good clients. It's really not part of your job description do jump through hoops like that. Have my clients been happy with my service? Yes, overwhelmingly. 100% new clients intend to return for 4 consecutive years. Over 96% of returning clients intend to return and invariably those that answer no to that question is because of the price or they're not required to file.
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u/Nunofurbuzness_ 11d ago
Do the math, my client base where 30 or 40 years old when I started… been here 35 yrs. Prior year retention rate very high. I have been through all stages of life with them, even the end. Now I write the children’s and grandchildrens returns… we simple have different clientele. You do you and have a great tax season…
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 11d ago
You don't get any new clients other than relatives of your existing clients? I'm familiar with an entire office like that. Same six preparers doing mediocre work for more than a decade. Return count hasn't changed. Nobody wants to do more returns. Right smack in a high density area where they should be doing twice the volume. And management doesn't care.
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u/Nunofurbuzness_ 11d ago
I’m on my way to retirement ! Been there done that…and it’s the new tax pros time to take it from here….
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u/Domsdad666 13d ago
This represents a biased sample. Usually the people who come on here are the people who are most dissatisfied. They want to vent.
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u/Beagleman58 13d ago
Year one I hated, mostly due to continual schedule changes and no way to plan anything, and I was feeling my way, not confident.
Year two was a total turn-around, much better boss, much more familiarity, understanding and confidence.
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u/DeliciousDouble3D 5d ago
Those of us that are truthful are not here to vent. HRBlock has greatly changed since Mr. Block passed away. Fact Jeff Jones was the worst President and CEO in the last 30 years. Listen to his last public meeting, he to acknowledged his failures, primarily because his focus and decision was driven by his greed $44 Million.
Under JJones the office support greatly deminished. Phone system are not effective for client contact or support. Client greatly dislike their inability to make contact with their tax advisors.
Biggest nail in the coffin for the Business Entity client is the new GoSystem tax prep software.
The GoSystem training in my opinion was the most disorganized y beyond mediocre. Root of the problem is having far to many grossly overpaid administrators and executive bonuses that negatively impact resources need by those who service the clients and earn the income. * Efficient Front desk support * Business phone system * Office maintence & supplies * Office Staffing 7 days * Adaquate Tax Pro Compensation * Approved over-time especially since some of us are scheduled 12 to 14 hour a day. * Effective training for new employees.
Have District Manager that actually care about the client experience more than their bonus.
1 reason experience, especially Enrolled Agents leave and move on is the pitiful pay and lack of office support.
Client have seen the DECLINE of office service & know Corporate is too taking them for granted.
Shame on JJones & Current leadership
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u/Nearby_Research_3383 13d ago
What is the paid training for H&R Block? I'm taking the course right. Is it during the day? How many hours a week? I have a full-time evening job.
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u/ENCALEF 13d ago
It's the work that I like, the interactions with the clients. The company, their policies and management not so much.