What Is a Professional Employer Organization and How Can PEOs Benefit Your HR?

Many small and large organizations use a professional employer organization (PEO) to meet their comprehensive HR needs. As an HR or IT manager, you may have heard of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). A PEO is a firm that provides comprehensive HR outsourcing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. 

You may be wondering how a PEO helps companies with recruitment processes and other tedious HR tasks. Read on to learn the benefits that professional employer organizations bring to organizations.

We will explore the key administrative functions handled by PEOs. You'll also learn about the financial advantages associated with using a PEO due to their collective bargaining power.

Plus, you’ll understand how Certified Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs) can provide an additional layer of credibility for companies that require it. Lastly, you’ll get invaluable insights into ADP TotalSource - one popular example of a PEO at work - and we’ll guide you on considerations your business should make before engaging the services of a PEO.

What is a Professional Employer Organization

A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is an external HR outfit that takes care of all the HR stuff like payroll, benefits, workers’ compensation claims, and employment laws. They become your co-employer, so you can focus on running your business.

Key HR Administrative Functions Handled By PEOs

• Payroll Administration: PEOs take care of all the number crunching, tax deductions, and pay slip distribution. One of their key roles is to ensure your employees get paid on time, every time.
• Risk Management: PEOs help you stay on the right side of the law by keeping your workplace safe and compliant with regulations.
• Talent Acquisition & Management: Another pivotal function of PEOs is that they match your business with top talent when you need them. They help you find the right talent and provide training programs to boost productivity. 

When you have a PEO working with your company, you can focus on the core of your goals and operations and leave the HR headaches to the experts. It's a great arrangement that can benefit your company in multiple ways, making it more productive and capable of growing.

What are the Benefits of Partnering with a PEO?

Because the business world is fast-paced, it is easy to become burdened with mundane tasks that do not contribute to the business’ growth and revenue. That is why it's essential to streamline operations and concentrate on key objectives. One way businesses achieve this is by partnering with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). This partnership offers numerous advantages that can significantly impact your company's bottom line. 

Some of the major benefits of working with a PEO include:

Partnering with a PEO Provides Administrative Relief 

A primary advantage of working with a PEO is the substantial administrative relief they provide. They handle complex tasks like payroll, benefits, and compliance management. Outsourcing these time-consuming functions to experts frees up valuable internal resources to focus on business growth.

By partnering with an experienced PEO, you ensure accuracy and adherence to best practices, avoiding costly penalties or legal issues.

How PEOs Help in Recruitment and Hiring Processes

PEOs offer comprehensive support for recruitment and hiring. They have access to extensive networks of potential candidates, speeding up the hiring process while ensuring high-quality applicants.

PEOs also provide job posting distribution, applicant tracking systems, interview scheduling assistance, and even onboarding programs. All these services are aimed at enhancing employee engagement from day one.

Engaging a PEO allows your business to tap into an extended team of HR professionals without taking on the overhead costs. It frees up your company leaders’ bandwidth to concentrate on improving company culture and driving growth strategies.

Financial Benefits of Using a PEO

You can save money significantly by working with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO). This is because PEOs have the bargaining power to get better rates on services like health insurance and workers' compensation than you could on your own.

You can leverage the collective bargaining power of PEOs to get competitive rates for your business. Small businesses struggle to negotiate good rates for employee benefits. But with a PEO, you join a bigger group that can get better deals. That means lower health insurance premiums and retirement plan costs, among others.

Lower costs not only help your bottom line but also make it easier to attract and keep top talent in today's job market.

In a nutshell, these are some of the financial advantages of using a PEO:

• Economies of Scale: PEOs manage HR tasks for multiple companies, saving you money by sharing resources and expertise.
• Risk Management: Outsourcing compliance management reduces the risk of costly fines or penalties for non-compliance.
• Savings on Administrative Costs: Outsourcing HR tasks frees up your staff to focus on more important initiatives, increasing productivity and profitability.

Remember, every business has unique requirements, so it's important to do a thorough analysis based on needs and budget before deciding whether PEOs would prove beneficial.

CPEOs vs PEOs: Exploring Certified Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs)

A unique subset of the PEO industry is that of the Certified Professional Employer Organizations or CPEOs. These organizations have been authorized by the IRS to handle federal taxes for their client employers, giving them an advantage over traditional PEO models.

What is a CPEO?

The IRS created the CPEO program in 2014 to regulate and standardize the PEO industry. To become certified, a PEO must meet strict financial standards, including positive working capital and an annual financial audit by an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Partnering with a CPEO provides peace of mind that comes from knowing you're working with a financially stable organization capable of handling your HR needs.

What Are The Benefits of Using CPEOs?

One major benefit of CPEOs is tax liability. Unlike traditional models, where both the client company and the PEO share responsibility for employment taxes, CPEOs assume sole liability for collecting and remitting federal employment taxes.

• No Double Taxation: Skip all the potential double taxation issues faced by traditional models.
• Tax Credits: Businesses can still claim federal tax credits when using a CPEO's services.
• Simplified Administration: Enjoy simplified administration as all payroll-related tasks are handled directly between the IRS and your chosen CPEO.

Case Study - ADP TotalSource And Its Unique Services

As far as Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) go, ADP TotalSource stands out as a prime example of how these organizations can provide comprehensive services that go beyond traditional HR outsourcing. This PEO offers unique legal defense benefits, providing businesses with robust protection against various risks.

Services Offered By ADP Totalsource

The range of services offered by ADP TotalSource is extensive and designed to cover all aspects of human resources management. These include payroll administration, employee benefits design and administration, risk management, and compliance assistance. They even offer recruitment support and performance management tools to attract top talent and keep the workforce engaged.

A key differentiator for this PEO is its Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). This coverage provides legal defense costs and shields your business from the impacts of costly lawsuits if an employee sues your business over wrongful termination or other employment-related issues.

Protection Against Personnel-Management-Related Risks

Fines or penalties arising from non-compliance with labor laws can cripple a business. But navigating the ever-changing regulations at federal, state, and local levels can be like walking through a minefield. PEOs keep up with the latest legislative changes, ensuring compliance and shielding a business from potential fines and penalties.

Considerations Before Engaging a PEO for Your Business

Engaging a professional employer organization (PEO) can be a game-changer for many businesses, but it's not always the right fit for everyone. 

Big corporations with HR pros might not need PEOs, but small businesses without HR expertise can benefit from using PEOs. 

A helpful question is to ask: Can your business handle payroll, benefits, compliance, and workers' compensation internally? If not, a PEO might be very much needed.

Also, consider your company culture and long-term goals. Co-employment means sharing control, so make sure the PEO aligns with your team dynamics.

Analyzing Cost Savings When Engaging PEOs

Using PEOs results in cost savings, but don't just assume it's automatic. Crunch the numbers and clarify the percentage savings before you commit to a particular PEO.

PEOs charge fees per employee or percentage of payroll. Therefore, it’s important to consider your company size, hiring costs, and overhead expenses to evaluate potential savings that will come from using a PEO.

Transparency in the PEO sector has improved, but verify financial statements and third-party audits for credibility. Smooth transitions lead to successful partnerships.

FAQs About Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

What is a professional employer organization or PEO?

A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) is a firm that handles HR solutions like payroll, benefits, HR management, and compliance assistance for small and mid-sized businesses.

What is the primary advantage of using a professional employer organization (PEO)?

The main advantage of using a PEO is that it lets businesses outsource their HR functions, saving costs and allowing more focus on core operations.

What are the negatives of PEO?

Potential drawbacks include loss of control over certain aspects of your business's HR function, compatibility issues with existing systems, and potentially higher costs compared to in-house handling.

Are PEO employees considered employees?

In co-employment arrangements with a PEO, workers are technically employed by both the client company and the PEO, but day-to-day operations remain under the control of the client company.

Finally, partnering with a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) that’s the right fit for a business can unlock speedy growth for the business.

PEOs handle all HR administrative tasks and give your company the freedom to focus on its core business functions. Plus, they're experts in recruitment and hiring, so you can trust them to find the perfect additions to your team.