How PEOs Help Small Businesses Weather the Pandemic
Professional Employer Organizations, or PEOs, have traditionally been driven by group health insurance. Their co-employee model allows small to mid-size businesses to tap into employee benefit packages typically offered by large organizations. However, the coronavirus pandemic has brought into focus the additional value PEOs bring to their members – human resources expertise and payroll services.
PEOs offer Pandemic- Related HR Policies
Few organizations anticipated needing to completely shift their business model in a matter of days. Policies and procedures covering PPE, social distancing and an entire workforce working from home had to be created quickly and then altered as state and CDC guidelines/recommendations evolved. Worksmart Systems, a 22-yr old Indianapolis PEO, has been tapping into their bevy of HR experts to ensure their co-employers could weather the pandemic. As people have been coming back to the office, Worksmart has been creating HR policies to help organizations manage things like mask policies, how to deal with the fear of being in the office and childcare/COVID care issues.
PEOs offer Rapid Response PPP Resources
Although April 3rd seems like a lifetime ago, for Worksmart’s co-employers it is seared into their memories. It was the first day businesses could apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. Worksmart employees worked long hours to ensure that their members had the payroll information they needed to apply that first day – 940/941s and a customized payroll report in their hands by 10 am. Efforts had actually started in March, when the first bits of information about the PPP were emerging. Worksmart was holding webinars each week to bring co-employers up to speed on the status of the bill, with their employment law attorneys evaluating the implications. Even though the PPP was one of the fastest pieces of legislation to pass in our nation’s history, Worksmart’s members were in the know throughout the quickly evolving process.
One of Worksmart’s co-employers said it best:
“Just wanted to say Kudos to Worksmart for easing the process for application for our PPP loan. Thanks to your webinar about the payroll reports, I was able to get all the information I needed for my loan application very quickly. Just got our money today!”
Jan- Law Office
Now that many businesses are back to business in this new normal, they have been looking to Worksmart for advice on virtual hiring and other HR realities that are most likely here to stay. There has always been value to having an HR expert in your corner, but during the pandemic it was what allowed many businesses to stay afloat.
There is no need to face these uncertain times alone. As a partner of Worksmart, Wharton & Power Insurance can help you uncover the benefits of a PEO for your business. For more information, send me an email or give me a call at 317-663-4138.
