In recent years regulations for the workplace have increased rapidly, making the job of administrating human resources complex and time-consuming. Organizations can become bogged down in the ocean of employment rules and policies, losing time and money in the effort to keep up with compliance. And, the consequences for falling behind have become steeper with the increase in fines. In search of a cost-effective solution, some companies have turned to outsourcing HR services from Professional Employer Organizations or PEOs. PEOs bypass the knowledge gap for employers who don’t have that expertise.
I’d like to share a story about an Indiana-based company who was looking for an efficient way to handle their human resources tasks. The organization manages fitness centers in more than a dozen states. Trying to handle the plethora of regulations specific to each state, along with the wave of regulations legislated by the Affordable Care Act, was consuming too much of their time and bottom line. Seeking an alternative to hiring a $50,000 specialized HR employee, the company found that Worksmart Systems worked best for their situation.
Without an in-house HR expert, the company relied on a combination of insurance brokers and expensive law firms for advice on internal benefits and workplace-related legal guidance. According to the company president, “As much as anything, it felt like we were spending more time making sure we didn’t step on a crack. Focusing on the legal aspects of employment law took time away from running the business. Now we have Worksmart to do that and it reduces our administrative time.”
Worksmart Systems is an Indiana-based PEO that offers businesses payroll services, employee benefits, HR and compliance services, and a human resources information system. Another benefit of working with Worksmart is access to their expertise in employment policy and regulations. Each client has the ability to contact Worksmart for answers to employment questions and advice. Having experts just a phone call away at no additional expense offers business owners an invaluable peace of mind about their benefits and policies.
Through Worksmart’s comprehensive offerings, the fitness company has seen improvement across the board, from staying compliant to revamping their employee medical package and retirement plans. The new retirement plan cuts administrative fees in half, and the health package includes better medical options and a health savings account for employees. “It’s a much better plan,” said the company president. “I would have never offered a health savings account because I would have had to figure out all the rules on it. It’s too complicated.”
“Worksmart has made things simple,” added the company president. “They uncomplicated the questions. In the past when someone asked us about insurance plans, we’d have to call the broker and get back to the employee. Worksmart knows the answer. We can take care of our customers and take care of our employees and run the business.”
From providing peace of mind and efficiency, to offering robust medical and retirement benefits, PEOs act as a crucial spotter for companies who want to keep their eyes and efforts focused on their business rather than on the safety net. Worksmart Systems goes beyond their competitors by offering state-of-the-art technology platforms, superior customer support and quality products. To learn more about the benefits of outsourcing your HR through a PEO, send me an email or give us a call at 317.663.4138.