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5 Qualities to Expect of Your PEO Broker

May 14th, 2012

We’ve got friends, family, and AngiesList.com to provide us with reviews when it comes to selecting our doctors, dentists, plumbers, day care professionals and more! We know what level of service and quality to expect from these service providers, but what about a PEO Broker?

As a business owner, how do you know which PEO Broker can be trusted? And which one is the right fit for your particular business?

When selecting a PEO Broker, the individual or company should meet the following standards:

  1. Experienced- Is your PEO Broker an expert in employee leasing solutions and everything related to managing human resources? Do they have solid industry partnerships or affiliations? How many years of combined experience does their company have?
  2. Exploratory- With more than 800 PEOs across the country, all of different sizes and costs, not every PEO is going to be the perfect fit for your company. Does your PEO Broker ask questions about your business, your costs, and your needs?
  3. Efficient- Sorting through 25 or 30-page proposals full of detail and marketing only to pull out the key points and deliverables can certainly take time-but when you have a professional working on your side, PEO options should be returned within a timely manner. At PEO Advantage, we have a systematic, yet personal, approach that works every time for efficient processing.
  4. Informative - Can your PEO Broker explain the PEO options they’ve delivered? Making sense of PEO quotes—what’s included, which charges don’t apply, and how they compare with your current costs—it all takes technology, expertise and a proven system for success. You deserve to understand the PEO options being delivered to your business!
  5. Results Driven – Is your PEO Broker focused on delivering the best and most cost effective options to your company? Are they objective in their approach? A great PEO Broker looks out for your best options, not their best options. At PEO Advantage, our HR solutions are guaranteed to save you twice the paid evaluation cost—or your analysis is FREE!

 

You know when it comes to HR solutions, Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) improve productivity, reduce liability and save money – but, you want to make sure your PEO Broker is also delivering the best possible results. For more information on PEOs or PEO Brokerage, call PEO Advantage at 877-636-9525 or contact us today.

Posted in PEO Brokers | No Comments

Employee Theft in the Workplace – How a PEO Can Help

May 7th, 2012

According to reports issued by the National Retail Security Survey within the past two years, retailers in the United States lose more inventory to their own employees than they do shoplifters! As a business owner, it’s a sad reality to swallow; employee theft accounted for about 45% of retail losses in 2010. theft at work

While many retailers and businesses may have advanced technology and/or tactics to detect theft in the workplace, gaining control of the situation may not be as easy as you’d think. Fortunately, for businesses engaged in a co-employment arrangement or employee leasing solution, a PEO can help when it comes to employee theft.  How?

Prevention:

  • PEOs offer recruiting assistance, to make sure the right employee is hired and stays put. This assistance will most often include criminal background checks and the use of electronic database information that helps connect the dots if there are multiple aliases out there.
  • Employee drug testing will ensure that your existing employees are responsible and clean, which limits security and/or safety risks within your place of employment.
  • Best practices: A trusted and knowledgeable PEO will offer guidance on employment regulations, compliance and termination requirements. When you work with a PEO, you have access to HR experts!

Termination:

  • Even if you have proof that an employee has stolen from you, there are numerous ways a termination could go wrong. By partnering with a PEO, the termination process becomes a bit easier. Through a co-employment arrangement, PEOs take care of any legal issues, and through best practices, a PEO can save you the stress of a possible lawsuit.

For more information on the many benefits of PEOs, call PEO Advantage at 877-636-9525 or contact us today.

Posted in Employee Theft, PEOs | No Comments

High Turnover in the Roofing Industry

April 30th, 2012

Last week, we discussed loss exposures and workers compensation insurance within the roofing industry, and how a PEO can offer cost-effective and safe alternatives for protecting yourself, and your employees.

Did you also know that the roofing industry has extremely high turnover, and that a PEO also offers assistance in reducing turnover?

Reasons for High Turnover in the Roofing Industry:

  • The work is often hot, exhausting, and dirty– many roofers do not stay on the job for long.
  • Weather affects the amount of work that can be done, and work is often seasonal – which affects the overall amount of money that can be made by each employee and/or contractor.

When it comes to push factors versus pull factors within your company, it’s often the push factors that outnumber the pull factors by 2-1 when it comes to an employee’s reason for leaving. In a working environment that is hot, exhausting and sometimes dirty, as an employer you need to provide really strong pull factors to ensure your best roofers stay put!

Employee Pull Factors Provided By PEOs:

  • Stronger Benefits– Access to Fortune 500 quality health insurance packages plus previously unavailable benefits such as 401(k), Section 125 plan and Flexible Spending.
  • Better Communication via an Employee Self Service portal-- Improved access to payroll information, benefits, personnel data, vacation and sick time accrual plus up-to-date information on labor regulations, workers’ rights, worksite safety and more.
  • Streamlined payroll and claims processing—On-time and accurate payroll plus efficient claims processing through improvements in expertise and technology.
  • Special perks—May have access to credit union membership, exclusive employee discounts and reduce rates on travel, entertainment and services.

For the business owner, PEOs also deliver best HR practices such as conducting an Exit Interview upon an employee’s departure. This crucial information can improve the workplace and prevent other roofers from leaving!

PEO Advantage can help you start turning things around today – before you encounter another employee’s costly departure.  We would love to hear from you!Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly. To access a PEO Advantage professional immediately, call 877-636-9525.

Posted in PEO Advantage, PEOs, Roofing Industry | No Comments

Celebrating “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day”

April 26th, 2012

We’re joining the 37 million men, women and children today in not only opening up our workplace to our children, but also celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day”


Are you participating?

Share your pictures with us on our Facebook fanpage (facebook.com/peoadvantage)

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments

Hey You! Careful Up There on the Roof!

April 23rd, 2012

The roofing industry as a whole has quite a few exposures to loss– and believe it or not, they aren’t all up on the roof! As the owner of a roofing company, you have likely encountered losses include employee injury, vehicle accidents, liability claims, and even third party claims by other company’s employees.

You know how to best protect your employees, but who’s there to protect you? Accidents do happen and while  workers compensation rates can literally be “through the roof,” PEO Advantage can help. If high-risk workers comp codes are demolishing your cash flow,  you’ll really appreciate our first-rate, affordable
alternatives.

With PEO Advantage, there are no  deposits or audits with our convenient Pay-As-You-Go Policies. You’ll see an immediate surge in your company’s cash flow since your premium is based on actual wages during that pay period, and by partnering with a PEO you’re not the only one that’s safer, your employees are too!

A PEO will file and track all claims, and manage safety reviews and OSHA compliance.  Many even offer professional assistance in offering clear expectations, easy-to-read handbooks and safety procedures for the roofing industry, all increasing job satisfaction and safety for your employees.

With PEO Advantage and a PEO partnership, roofing companies find peace of mind knowing that their risk is managed. So, be careful up there on the roof! And if you want to relax while you’re down on the ground, PEO Advantage can help. We’ll match you with the perfect PEO to further ensure savings, and most importantly, safety in the workplace.

Contact us today…  If we don’t find you a PEO solution that saves you at least twice our analysis fee—your evaluation is on us.

Posted in Workers' Comp | No Comments

Top 3 Reasons Your Company Needs EPLI

April 17th, 2012

EPLI (Employment Practices Liability Insurance) provides employers with insurance coverage, including the cost of legal defense) in the event that the company ever faces discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or any other employment-related claims.

Any working environment, big or small, can quickly become unstable without warning.  Here are the top 3 reasons you need to be concerned as a business owner, and why your organization needs EPLI:

  1. Claims against employers are continually on the rise. According to an article found on Examiner.com, 1 in 4 privately held companies is sued by their own employees.
  2. More than any other component of the employer/employee relationship, the firing or discharge of an employee has the potential to result in litigation. EPLI policies cover these claims by former employees who claim they were wrongfully terminated.
  3. As mentioned above, big or small, it can happen to any company, and the repercussions of these claims can be felt far beyond the office or the initial financial impact. They often make front page news stories, resulting in public relations nightmares, further harming your bottom line.

The cost of EPLI can be expensive, but companies who are engaged in a co-employment relationship with a PEO have the advantage of paying much lower EPLI rates—mainly because EPLI insurance costs are rated according to a company’s size and expected lawsuit risk. With rates depending heavily on the level of HR practices within an organization, PEOs are advantageous in that they reduce risk by offering expert services surrounding compliance and risk management.

But, depending on the size and policy needs of your company, a PEO-provided EPLI policy may not be your best option.  The best PEOs offer complimentary services that surround EPLI protection, including access to employment law attorneys and advice, background checks, firing/hiring assistance, training courses for business owners and/or managers, a minimum annual coverage of $1 million and easy per employee pricing.  Per employee pricing can be less competitive when compared to a traditional EPLI policy for larger companies and deductibles or per claim fees can create cash flow issues for a small company needing to access the policies benefits.  EPLI policy characteristics are classified for each vendor with whom PEO Advantage works and it is one of the 125 checkpoints used to select vendors who are best qualified to bid on the opportunity to provide PEO services for your company.

Your PEO benefits are waiting. Call 877-636-9525 or contact us today to find the best Professional Employer Organization and EPLI rates for your company. To learn more about our company, click here.

 

Posted in Business Insurance | No Comments

PEOs and Credit Unions – Friends? Who Knew!

April 12th, 2012

Have you ever thought about offering your employees additional benefits – such as a credit union membership? Credit unions are member-owned not for profit financial cooperatives, differing from banks in that they are democratically controlled by their members, and exist to serve their members- not make a profit!  Earnings are returned to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits, and lower fees.

Offering credit union membership to your employees may not be possible without the help of a PEO though. Many credit union memberships depend on belonging to certain communities, such as a workplace or region. Because a PEO operates through a co-employment arrangement with numerous companies, the PEO may actually employ enough people to be considered for credit union membership or even have a credit union of their own.

Many PEOs offer access to credit union memberships in addition to other special perks such as exclusive employee discounts and reduced rates on travel, entertainment and services. The benefits of working with a PEO certainly do not end after saving time and money- the perks continue!

Benefits of a Credit Union:

  • On average, credit unions offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on savings accounts—just what your employees want!
  • Credit Unions provide a diverse array of services – many include free ATM use, loans, and interest-bearing savings accounts, checking, and electronic banking.
  • Credit unions pride themselves on helping members make better financial decisions. Many offer seminars and information on various topics such as managing debt.
  • Credit Union members are protected through the NCUA insurance. NCUA states that if a federally insured credit union fails, members receive
    payments for their deposits.
  • Credit unions have long-standing reputations for allowing members’ spouses, siblings, and children join.

Like what you’ve read so far? Why not pass along these awesome benefits to your employees?  It’s simple: if you are currently working with a PEO, just ask them about their credit union offerings! If your current PEO does not offer credit union benefits, or you’re currently interested in finding a PEO with credit union benefits, contact us today.  PEO Advantage has helped countless business owners source the perfect PEO and credit union benefits for their employees.

Posted in Additional Benefits/Perks | No Comments

We’re Giving Away 3 Visa Gift Cards!

April 9th, 2012

Enter to Win

On April 26, 2012 parents throughout the United States will wake, dress and feed their children and strap them into the family vehicle to embark on a tradition that is 20 years in the making. Thursday April 26, 2012 marks the 20th Anniversary of “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” and we want to celebrate by giving away 3 Visa gift cards, each worth $25.00, to participating parents.

To enter simply follow the instructions below, each task provides you with 1-5 entry points. The more points, the more entries. The contest runs through Wed. April 25, 2012. Winners will be announced on the 26th.

Good luck!

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Workers Comp Solutions for North Carolina!

April 4th, 2012

If you own a roofing, trucking, manufacturing, staffing, landscaping, construction, HVAC, plumbing, painting, maintenance or cleaning business, you are probably well aware of the rising costs of workers’comp.  Owning a North Carolina business that is considered high risk can severely stifle your cash flow.

With insurer results weakening due to rising injury expenses, insurers are passing costs on to North Carolina employers of all sizes, with smaller employers feeling the greatest impact. High costs result from high state-regulated rates, and requirements for large down payments and audits. Traditional workers’ comp policies require up to 50% down payment which adversely impacts cash flow, and polices are audited annually to make sure that actual wages paid to employees per code were estimated accurately at the policy’s inception. A company whose policy was rated for less than actual wages will be forced to come out of pocket for the difference in a lump sum.

Given  your specific line of work, accidents unfortunately may be unavoidable, regardless of how much you protect your employees. But you do have options for more affordable workers’ comp coverage. Although rate increases are occurring, insurer competition remains a factor in pricing—and partnering with the PEO Advantage North Carolina branch in Holly Springs, will introduce extremely convenient employee leasing solutions to business owners in the Triangle and Triad areas.

We have access to hundreds of PEOs, additional workers’ comp carriers and all major medical and supplemental insurance carriers, and we are uniquely positioned to serve high risk accounts.  PEO Advantage North Carolina branch is helping high risk companies across the state reduce workers’ compensations costs and improve their cash flow. We even guarantee clients a minimum of 25% cost reduction.

Solutions delivered by PEO Advantage:

  • Pay as you go workers’ comp policies (no deposit, no audit, improved cash flow)
  • Up to 35% discounted rates with PEO Advantage
  • On time and on demand workers’ comp certification access
    • Since PEOs are already licensed and have established work comp policies in many states, a client can add employees and provide proof of insurance immediately
  • Claims review and administration
  • Workers’ comp billing reconciliation
  • Safety plan creation, administration and training
  • Safety audits and reviews
  • Report and document accidents
  • OSHA compliance

Don’t waste any more valuable time or money — many states are approving workers’ compensation rate increases this year and with PEO Advantage there are
no deposits or audits with convenient Pay-as-you-Go policies.

Call the PEO Advantage North Carolina office at 877-636-9525 or contact us today for a North Carolina PEO quote.

Posted in North Carolina PEO Solutions, Workers' Comp | No Comments

PEO vs ASO vs HRO

March 26th, 2012

Do You Know What You’re Shopping For? 

If you are currently an employer shopping for an employee leasing solution, you may be stumbling across various acronymns within the industry such as PEO, ASO and HRO. While there are many similarities amongst all three, there are many differences, and not every option will be the perfect fit for your company and your employees.

Join us as we demystify these organizations, and help you understand which employee leasing solution or human resources outsourcing solution you may really be searching for:

  • PEO:  A Professional Employer Organization, also known as Employee Leasing, assumes and manages critical HR management and employment-related responsibilities including employee administration, compliance, unemployment and workers compensation claims, risk management, health benefits and payroll. Through this co-employment arrangement, you and the PEO contractually share employer responsibilities and liabilities.
  • ASO: An Administrative Service Organization, or ASO, could be considered HRO (Human Resources Outsourcing) but, ASOs are NOT considered a PEO because they do not operate within a co-employment arrangement, as an employer and a PEO do. There is no sharing of employer responsibilities and liabilities. ASOs can provide payroll processing, administration support and more. They can also provide options for and administer insurance and benefits packages—but these policies are written individually for each group. As a co-employer, PEOs provide clients with access to master policy benefits as a part of their large group.  ASOs simply help administer policies,by managing payroll deductions, providing claims support and reconciling invoices.
  • HRO: Human Resources Outsourcing refers to a variety of human resources companies that help clients offload some part of their administrative responsibilities, whether that be payroll processing or managing benefits.  On the contrary, PEOs provide a vast array of outsourced administrative services to the client, including payroll processing, insurance, employee benefit packages, HR support, and more.

PEO Advantage assists companies in truly defining what they are in need of. Finding the right organization, whether that is a PEO or not, is a lot of work. Some of the do-it-yourself web sites available will automate a few steps, but you will still need an experienced team to find the perfect
fit for your employees.

If you are currently shopping for a PEO, ASO or HRO, or perhaps just need some preliminary guidance in which organization would be the best fit, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly.

Posted in General Information | No Comments

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