Many small and medium sized businesses struggle with managing human resources (HR) functions in-house. Handling tasks like payroll, benefits administration, hiring and onboarding, and compliance can be time-consuming and require specialized expertise. Using a professional employer organization (PEO) offers numerous advantages for outsourcing key HR responsibilities.
Cost Savings
One of the biggest benefits of using a PEO broker to find a suitable PEO is significant cost savings. The PEO consolidates HR tasks to achieve economies of scale and passes those savings onto clients. They can negotiate better rates and packages for things like:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Workers’ compensation insurance
Rather than administering benefits plans independently, pooling employees from multiple companies under the PEO lets them leverage bulk buying power. The PEO does the legwork to find the most competitive plans.
Access to HR Expertise
Outsourcing to a PEO provides access to dedicated HR professionals. They handle tasks like:
- Managing payroll
- Administering benefits
- Tracking vacation and sick days
- Ensuring compliance with labor regulations in the local labor market.
This lifts the administrative burden from a small business owner’s shoulders. The PEO remains up to date on constantly changing rules and regulations to avoid penalties and lawsuits. Their expertise covers both state and federal HR compliance. It’s also useful for businesses employing people in an overseas market, where they are unfamiliar with local laws and regulations.
Improved Risk Management
Using a PEO significantly improves risk management for small and medium businesses. The PEO becomes the employer of record and assumes many employer liabilities. They handle responsibilities like:
- Managing workers’ compensation claims
- Defending against wrongful termination lawsuits
- Protecting against discrimination lawsuits
By reducing HR-related risks, the PEO provides peace of mind and frees up businesses to focus on core functions. The PEO’s comprehensive policies and oversight help minimize potential liabilities.
Access to Advanced HR Technology
PEO companies invest in advanced HR technology that would be too expensive for an individual small business. They provide online management platforms with real-time analytics and data. This technology gives clients visibility and tools to handle many tasks themselves including:
- Managing time-off requests
- Tracking employee performance
- Posting open positions
- Scheduling interviews
- Performing background checks on candidates
The PEO company’s technology simplifies supervisory roles and provides analytics to help make strategic decisions.
How to Choose a PEO
Clearly define your business needs and priorities. What specific HR functions do you want to outsource? What are the pain points you want addressed?
Research multiple PEOs and compare services offered, industries served, client reviews and ratings. Look for experience working with companies like yours. Ask about their screening process for employers and employees. Do they conduct thorough background checks?
Taking the time to thoroughly evaluate PEO will help you select the right partner tailored to your HR outsourcing needs.
The advantages of outsourcing HR to a PEO are clear. It alleviates administrative burdens for small business owners, provides cost savings and risk management, and allows access to advanced HR technology and expertise. With a strong PEO partnership, companies can better focus on their core business goals.
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