PEO Definition: What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)?
PEO stands for professional employer organization. During your research, you may have heard PEO services referred to as co-employment, business process outsourcing, or HR outsourcing. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organization’s (NAPEO) definition, “PEOs enable clients to cost-effectively outsource the management of human resources, employee benefits, payroll, and workers’ compensation.” The PEO industry has been around for 30+ years. There are more than 700 PEOs nationwide. PEOs operate in every state and provide services to 173,000 small and mid-size businesses, employing more than four million people.
PEO Services: What PEOs Can And Can’t Do For Your Business
If you’re concerned that working with a PEO means you’re going to lose control of your company, you’re not alone. The reality is that you will never lose control of your business when you hire a PEO. In fact, a PEO will help you make more informed HR decisions that will make your business stronger.
What PEOs DO
- Handle comprehensive HR services for employers including payroll processing, HR compliance, risk management, employee benefits, employment tax, and time and attendance management
- Help reduce liability for payment of wages, payroll taxes, and state unemployment taxes
- Assist with employee recruitment and reduction of employee turnover
- Make your business more attractive to current and potential employees
- Save you time so you can focus on the day-to-day operations and growth of your business
What PEOs DO NOT
- Take control of your business
- Supply labor to worksites
- Make hiring and firing decisions for you
Benefits Of Outsourcing HR Functions To A PEO
There are many reasons why employers use a PEO. Businesses that outsource HR services to a PEO typically experience:
- Positive ROI. Employers see an average annual return on investment of 27.2% from using a PEO.
- Faster growth rate. Businesses who use a PEO grow 7-9% faster and are 50% less likely to go out of business.
- Greater employee retention. Businesses in a PEO partnership have 10-14% less turnover.
- Competitive benefits and health insurance. PEOs leverage their purchasing power to negotiate more affordable benefits and insurance offerings for small businesses.
- Improved compliance. PEOs stay up-to-date on business regulations to reduce risk and ensure your company remains compliant.
Source: NAPEO
Hiring A PEO: Do PEOs Work In My Industry?
Yes! PEOs work with companies in all industries ranging from accounting firms to small manufacturers to doctors and mechanics. Many different types of professionals benefit from PEO services, including:
- Construction
- Transportation & utilities
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale
- Agriculture / forestry / fishing
- Other (public administration, finance, insurance, real estate, and mining markets)
Any Business Can Find Value In A PEO Relationship. Ready to Learn More?
Give us a call at 330-659-0100 or fill out the form below to start a conversation about how GMS can make your small business simpler, safer, and stronger. In the meantime, visit our Education Center to learn more about PEOs.