Professional Employer Organization and HR Outsourcing News, Articles and Commentary

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Listing Date	Article Link	Article Review / Excerpt	Reader Comments
6/10/2009	Ohio legislature considers amendments to PEO laws Source: State of Ohio	The state of Ohio moves to enact legislation that establishes financial capacities and clarify the rights of PEOs and their client companies. A financial statement required under division (B)(7) of this section for initial registration shall be the most recent financial statement of the professional employer organization or professional employer organization group of which the professional employer organization is a member and shall not be older than thirteen months. For each registration renewal, the professional employer organization shall file the required financial statement within one hundred eighty days after the end of the professional employer organization's or professional employer organization group's fiscal year. A professional employer organization may apply to the administrator for an extension beyond that time if the professional employer organization provides the administrator with a letter from the professional employer organization's auditor stating the reason for delay and the anticipated completion date.	Post the first comment about: Ohio legislature considers amendments to PEO laws
6/5/2009	Florida puts new reporting requirements on Professional Employer Organizations. Source: State of Florida	Florida passes "Accurate Employment Statistics Enhancement Act" to require PEO and Employee Leasing companies to submit client level detail information to the state government for use in unemployment compensation data analysis. Known as Florida House bill HB641 and Senate bill SB1062. The bill amends the definition of “employee leasing company” in s. 443.036(18), F.S., to include a statement that requires employee leasing companies to produce quarterly reports concerning their clients and internal staff. The new definition will require employee leasing companies to “produce quarterly reports concerning the clients of the employee leasing company and the internal staff of the employee leasing company.” Quarterly reports will provide AWI with more timely and accurate labor market statistics.	Latest Comment: - 6/9/2009 What about client names? Read All 1 Comments about: Florida puts new reporting requirements on Professional Employer Organizations.
6/3/2009	State of Nevada approves PEO legislation Source: State of Nevada	The state of Nevada has approved significant enhancements to PEO legislation. New provisions ensure PEOs have flexibility for providing clients with workers' compensation insurance coverage and ensures uniform financial standards for the PEO industry. AN ACT relating to employee leasing companies; authorizing the Administrator of the Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry to adopt regulations relating to a third party that may act on behalf of an employee leasing company; providing various means for an employee leasing company and its clients to provide workers’ compensation coverage; requiring employee leasing companies to pay an annual registration fee; requiring employee leasing companies to submit certain audited financial statements; providing the means by which an employee of an employee leasing company may notify a supervisor of an injury for the purposes of industrial insurance; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.	Latest Comment: - 6/11/2009 PEO Legislation Read All 1 Comments about: State of Nevada approves PEO legislation
5/29/2009	State of Texas upgrades PEO legislation Source: State of Texas	The State of Texas has modified the Texas PEO statutes to include new definitions for PEO working capital requirements as well as ensure PEO clients are defined as the eligible parties for other employer based tax credits. PEOs renewing their licenses and seeking new licenses to operate in Texas will need to be compliant with the provision effective December 31, 2011. C.S.H.B. 2249 strengthens financial standards for staff leasing services companies, establishes a superior standard for determining a staff leasing services company's liquidity, creates maximum efficiencies at TDLR for the staff leasing services company licensing process, and allows a staff leasing services company to use an approved assurance organization to act on its behalf in complying with licensing requirements. The bill clarifies that nothing in a staff leasing services arrangement affects the ability of a client company to qualify for tax credits or other economic incentives. The bill requires a staff leasing services company to provide employment information required for the administration of any tax credit, grant, or economic incentive that is based on employment.	Post the first comment about: State of Texas upgrades PEO legislation
5/29/2009	Nebraska moves forward with PEO legislation Source: State of Nebraska	Nebraska moves forward with proposed PEO legislation and will consider the bill (LB570) as early as January 2010. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the professional employer organization and the client in a professional employer agreement, the client retains the exclusive right to direct and control the covered employees as is necessary to conduct the client’s business, to discharge any of the client’s fiduciary responsibilities, or to comply with any licensure requirements applicable to the client or to the covered employees.	Post the first comment about: Nebraska moves forward with PEO legislation
5/7/2009	The Coming of Zerocare Source: American Thinker	A Florida doctor discusses the ramifications of nationalized health care. Throughout this, there will be an encouragement to expand primary care while restricting access to anything sophisticated or expensive. Primary and preventative care as forms of cost savings are myths, as frankly these are of little use in an aging population. We spend one third of our budget now on individuals who are in the last three months of their life with terminal incurable illness. The government has a vested interest in having the end of life take place at an earlier date once their productive years are over and they become a negative financial entity on the books for healthcare, Social Security and nursing homes.	Post the first comment about: The Coming of Zerocare
5/6/2009	North Carolina Senate moves to amend PEO regulations Source: State of North Carolina	The North Carolina Senate has approved an amendment to the state regulations for PEOs to be licensed in the state. The act - Senate Bill S1029 stipulates that all PEOs licensed prior to October 1, 2008 must post a $100,000 surety bond. PEOs licensed after this date must post a bond equal to five percent of the prior years total sages, benefits, work comp premiums and UI contributions up to a max $500,000.	Post the first comment about: North Carolina Senate moves to amend PEO regulations
4/28/2009	PEOs Ease Human Resource Concerns for Small Business Source: Nebraska Cattleman	Nebraska feedlot owners and managers discover the advantages of using a PEO. In the case of the feedlot, the frequency and severity of workmen’s comp issues is much higher than in urban companies, as feedlot cowboys grapple with getting potloads of finished cattle into loading chutes, and ranch cowboys tangle with disagreeable cows at weaning time. Accordingly, aside from HR services, ag-related PEOs provide guidance for improving workplace safety and managing workers’ compensation claims.	Post the first comment about: PEOs Ease Human Resource Concerns for Small Business
4/17/2009	New Hampshire Employee Leasing Law May Change Source: State of New Hampshire	Audit requirements for employee leasing companies in New Hampshire may be improved if senate passed legislation is approved. An employee leasing company may meet its obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for leased employees through 2 carriers, provided that each client company’s leased employees shall be covered by only one carrier and that such coverage shall clearly delineate such client company employees by client company name and federal identification number.	Latest Comment: - 4/20/2009 NH law Read All 1 Comments about: New Hampshire Employee Leasing Law May Change
4/11/2009	Outsourcing still effective in saving business funds Source: Wisconsin Post-Crescent	New Wisconsin law makes HR outsourcing with a PEO more viable. Not only do PEOs save businesses money and tackle HR matters, they can provide additional savings not accessible to all businesses. Because PEOs provide services to many companies, they can take advantage of economies of scale by combining all of their "employees" to obtain cheaper group rates for life, disability, health, unemployment or workers' compensation insurance and other benefits.	Post the first comment about: Outsourcing still effective in saving business funds
4/6/2009	Outsource human resources to make time for making money Source: Kansas City Star	Kansas City companies confirm the operating efficiencies obtained when they hire a PEO to take over non-revenue producing tasks. "The way many small businesses survive bad economic times is to cut costs, which I refer to as saving paper clips," Milan Yager of NAPEO said. "But you can't save enough paper clips to make money. At some point, you have to increase revenues. What PEOs do is give owners their time back." The concept behind PEOs isn't new. Employers have been using outside services for payroll, insurance and other functions for years. The difference is that PEOs provide one-stop shopping for everything from payroll and risk management to employee recruitment, retention and termination.	Post the first comment about: Outsource human resources to make time for making money
4/1/2009	Avoiding Court During a Recession Source: Risk Management Magazine	Good advice for avoiding lawsuits for unfair employment termination. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 2007 had the highest number of incoming private sector discrimination charge filings since 2002, along with the largest annual increase since the early 1990s. All this combined with the expected onslaught of age-bias lawsuits from baby boomers means that risk managers must work harder than ever to avoid employment-related lawsuits during the current recession.	Latest Comment: - 6/19/2009 Termination Read All 1 Comments about: Avoiding Court During a Recession
3/17/2009	Texas makes correct call to reject SUTA - UI strings Source: Texas Public Policy	Texas governor Rick Perry rejects federal unemployment insurance assistance because of long term burdens for Texas businesses. This article explores the rationale behind the governor's decision. The fallacy promoted by advocates of these eligibility changes is that the federal funds will "pay" for several years of the expanded benefits. In fact, those dollars will be used immediately to partially shore up the UI trust fund, and employers will foot the cost of the expanded benefits from Day One. There are better options to address the projected trust fund deficit that control the level of taxes paid by Texas employers and preserve Texas' ability to manage our unemployment system as we see fit.	Post the first comment about: Texas makes correct call to reject SUTA - UI strings
3/14/2009	Gevity - Trinet Merger Acquisition Source: StaffMarket News	General Atlantic Partners engineers taking Gevity private through Trinet merger.	Post the first comment about: Gevity - Trinet Merger Acquisition
3/13/2009	State of New Hampshire clarifies rules for PEOs with Group Health Plans. Source: State of New Hampshire	Earlier communications from the state of New Hampshire were incorrect and were corrected in the linked memo.	Post the first comment about: State of New Hampshire clarifies rules for PEOs with Group Health Plans.
3/9/2009	Verifying Green Cards Not So Easy Source: Long Island Business News	New York company gets caught in grey area when applicants provide bogus work credentials. We’re clearly moving toward more oversight,” said Dawn Davidson Drantch, director of employee relations and counsel a professional employer organization providing human resources services. Mitchell Zwaik, an immigration attorney based in Bohemia, said, “The move is toward enforcement of the rules more than toward changing the rules. The basic principle hasn’t changed.” Employers must complete I-9 forms within three days of hiring, obtaining documents showing identification and right to work. But employers have traditionally filed and forgotten these documents.	Post the first comment about: Verifying Green Cards Not So Easy
3/2/2009	Some companies find savings in outsourced HR services Source: Jacksonville Business Journal	PEOs can offer hard and soft dollar savings for small businesses. The added pressures of a harsh economic climate that has forced many businesses to lay off workers and do more with less have provided little relief. But professional employer organizations, which are essentially outsourced human resources, are flourishing in this climate by offering small businesses the chance to outsource their headaches and save money at the same time.	Post the first comment about: Some companies find savings in outsourced HR services
3/1/2009	MetLife Releases Annual Study of Employee Benefit Trends Source: Met Life	Study demonstrates the value of employee benefit programs to their client companies.	Post the first comment about: MetLife Releases Annual Study of Employee Benefit Trends
2/25/2009	Mass Layoffs in January 2009 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics	The BLS reports on the industries reporting the highest number of mass layoffs initial claims in January 2009. Professional Employer Organizations report 11,345 initial claims for January 2009.	Post the first comment about: Mass Layoffs in January 2009
2/17/2009	ADP TotalSource Financial Results Source: Seeking Alpha	ADP Reports 2008 fourth quarter financial results By segment, Employer Services (ES) revenue grew 6% to $1.64 billion with 3% growth in the U.S. payroll and tax filing business and 10% growth in beyond payroll revenue. Year–to-date client retention declined 0.5 percentage points. The dollar value of new business sales declined 13% for ES and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services due to price sensitivity and the increased number of companies going out of business. PEO Services revenue grew 14% to $285.4 million and Dealer Services revenue decreased 1% to $342.7 million.	Latest Comment: - 2/17/2009 Dollar Value? Read All 1 Comments about: ADP TotalSource Financial Results
1/29/2009	Workers' Comp Rates to Rise in Florida Source: South Florida Business Journal	Florida Workers' Compensation rates will be going up as a result of a recent Florida supreme court ruling that disallows a rate schedule for lawyers. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is expected to approve a 6.4 percent increase in Florida's workers' compensation insurance rates on April 1.	Latest Comment: - 2/17/2009 Just great - not Read All 1 Comments about: Workers' Comp Rates to Rise in Florida
1/28/2009	OSHA 300 Log Posting Requirement Source: US Department of Labor	All employers are reminded that workplace posting of OSHA 300 logs must be audited and completed by February 1. You must post a copy of the annual summary in each establishment in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted. You must ensure that the posted annual summary is not altered, defaced or covered by other material.	Post the first comment about: OSHA 300 Log Posting Requirement
1/27/2009	New I9 effective February 2 2009 Source: US Citizenship and Immigration Service	All employers must transition to the new I9 form after February 2 2009.	Post the first comment about: New I9 effective February 2 2009
1/22/2009	Making Ledbetter Better, or at Least Less Bad Source: The Heritage Foundation	The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (HR 11-S181) is being pushed through congress. All employers need to understand the ramifications for HR practices and the long term financial exposure of this legislation. In particular, three words in the legislation that have received little attention would be particularly conducive to this sort of abuse. Rather than focusing on discriminatory pay decisions, the Ledbetter Act would include within the definition of an unlawful employment practice “a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice.” This loose language would allow trial lawyers to channel potentially all discrimination claims, no matter how tenuously related to compensation, through the Ledbetter Act, thereby evading Title VII’s and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act’s (ADEA) limitations periods entirely. In this way, nearly any alleged discrimination could be the subject of claims brought years after the fact—a recipe for abuse.	Latest Comment: - 1/27/2009 Full employment act for lawyer Read All 1 Comments about: Making Ledbetter Better, or at Least Less Bad
1/15/2009	Nebraska PEO Legislation Introduced Source: State of Nebraska	The Legislature finds: That professional employer organizations provide a valuable service to commerce and the citizens of this state by increasing the opportunities of employers to develop cost-effective methods of satisfying their personnel requirements and providing employees with access to certain employment benefits which might otherwise not be available to them; That professional employer organizations operating in this state should be regulated by the Department of Labor; and That any allocation of the employer duties and responsibilities pursuant to the Professional Employer Organization Registration Act will preserve all rights to which covered employees would be entitled under a traditional employment relationship.	Post the first comment about: Nebraska PEO Legislation Introduced
1/15/2009	Wyoming PEO Legislation Source: State of Wyoming	Each professional employer organization operating within this state as of July 1, 2009 shall complete its initial registration not later than one hundred eighty days after July 1, 2009. The initial registration shall be valid until one hundred eighty (180) days from the end of the professional employer organization's first fiscal year end that is more than one (1) year after July 1, 2009. Each professional employer organization not operating within this state as of July 1, 2009 shall complete its initial registration prior to commencement of operations within this state.	Post the first comment about: Wyoming PEO Legislation
1/14/2009	North Dakota Debates removing PEO Financial Requirements Source: State of North Dakota	The state of North Dakota proposed amending existing legislation that requires professional employer organizations to provide audited financial statements as a condition of obtaining a license to operate in the state. Industry representatives are opposing the measure and it has been tabled until a subcommittee returns to the legislature with its findings. A person may not provide, advertise, or otherwise hold itself out as providing professional employer services, unless the person is licensed under this chapter. A person engaged in the business of providing professional employer services shall obtain a license regardless of its use of the term or conducting business as a "professional employer organization", "staff leasing company", "registered staff leasing company", "employee leasing company", "administrative employer", or any other name.	Post the first comment about: North Dakota Debates removing PEO Financial Requirements
1/9/2009	State of Colorado moves forward with Employee Leasing Legislation Source: State of Colorado	The Colorado department of Labor and Employment moves to implement PEO and employee leasing regulations for the first quarter of 2009. Each employee leasing company shall pay wages and collect, report, and pay all payroll-related taxes from its own accounts for all covered employees. each employee leasing company shall pay unemployment compensation insurance taxes and provide, maintain, and secure all records and documents required of work-site employers under the unemployment insurance laws of this state for covered employees. For unemployment reporting purposes, each employee leasing company is the only employing unit for covered employees and shall have the responsibility for unemployment compensation insurance as required of an employer pursuant to the "Colorado employment security act", articles 70 to 82 of this title.	Post the first comment about: State of Colorado moves forward with Employee Leasing Legislation
1/8/2009	State of North Carolina sets PEO bond requirements Source: State of North Carolina	Renewal application still must meet the $100K bond requirements.	Post the first comment about: State of North Carolina sets PEO bond requirements
12/11/2008	New Jersey Family Leave Posters Now Required Source: State of New Jersey	Starting December 18, 2008 all New Jersey employers are required to post notifications about the new provisions available to employees regarding the family leave insurance provisions that will become effective July 1, 2009. New Jersey law will require up to six weeks of Family Leave Insurance benefits. Employers covered under the Family Leave Insurance provisions of the New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits Law are required by law to post notification detailing program information and employee rights to New Jersey Family Leave Insurance benefits. Employers must conspicuously display the notification poster in each of your workplaces, in a place or places accessible to all employees by December 15, 2008. Employers must also provide each employee with a written copy of the notification: no later than December 15, 2008; at the time of an employee's hiring; whenever an employee notifies you that he/she is taking time off to bond with a newborn or newly adopted child or to care for a seriously ill family member; at any time, upon the first request of an employee.	Post the first comment about: New Jersey Family Leave Posters Now Required
12/2/2008	Ohio Amends UI Regulations Source: Commerce Clearing House	Ohio defines terms for SUTA - state unemployment taxes for clients using an employee leasing company. Employee leasing. The term “unrelated third party client” is now defined as an entity unrelated to, or not sharing common ownership, management or control with, an employee leasing company, and to which individuals are provided by the employee leasing company to perform services on a permanent basis.	Post the first comment about: Ohio Amends UI Regulations
11/21/2008	Employers Hurt by Swollen Health Care Costs Source: Long Island Business News	The drastic rise in the costs for employer for health insurance is fueling demand for Health Savings Accounts or HSAs Another option is an HSA, in which dollars are allocated to employees, who can roll the accounts over every year and take them with them when they leave. I have a host of clients that uses HRAs, and a host of clients that uses HSAs,” Bradley said. “Some companies prefer HRAs because they are not as cumbersome to set up, and they retain the funds, rather than returning them to employees.” But others favor the HSA for the effect it has on employees. “It encourages them to become better consumers of health care, since they’re spending their own money,” Bradley said. For instance, “if the money is coming out of their own pocket, consumers might ask doctors if they really need all three tests, or if they really need 100 pills instead of 50,” said Lou Basso, president of The Alcott Group, a Farmingdale-based professional employer organization and provider of human resources services.	Latest Comment: - 11/24/2008 Remember the major medical pla Read All 1 Comments about: Employers Hurt by Swollen Health Care Costs
11/17/2008	Florida - NCCI Proposes 18.6% Workers Comp Rate Hike Source: Palm Beach Post	Although workers' compensation rates are expected to drop in January 2009, NCCI has proposed to hike rates shortly thereafter beginning in March and another hike later in 2009. The schedule, a key part of the 2002 workers comp reform, capped attorneys fees that had helped make Florida's rates among the highest in the nation. Since the legislative overhaul, rates have fallen by 60 percent, and Florida is now among the lowest states in terms of workers comp rates. A representative of the Florida Chamber of Commerce said small businesses cannot tolerate an increase, and he charged trial lawyers with getting a "bailout'' as the result of the Supreme Court decision.	Latest Comment: - 11/24/2008 Related Link Read All 2 Comments about: Florida - NCCI Proposes 18.6% Workers Comp Rate Hike
11/13/2008	California State Fund files for 8.9% workers’ comp increase Source: San Francisco Business Times	Since dropping by 63% since 2003, work comp rates in California are now on the rise, with state fund jacking rates up 8.9% for 2009. Since increases in workers’ compensation premium rates typically hit some lines of business harder than others, the steepest increases are likely to affect businesses in areas such as construction, manufacturing, transportation and retail, which are already struggling due to the rapidly weakening U.S. and California economies.	Latest Comment: - 11/19/2008 Is this Good or Bad News? Read All 1 Comments about: California State Fund files for 8.9% workers’ comp increase
11/6/2008	Department of Justice Provides Additional No-Match Guidance Source: StaffMarket	The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new guidance confirming that an employer using the safe harbor provisions of the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) no-match rule when letters or notices that a worker’s Social Security number does not match existing records, will not be potentially guilty of discrimination. New rules from the DOJ help employers meet the letter of the law for hiring and avoid discrimination charges.	Post the first comment about: Department of Justice Provides Additional No-Match Guidance
10/29/2008	Get Ready to Relearn the Americans with Diabilities Act Source: Law.com	Beginning January 1, 2009, employers must comply with the ADAAA - Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. Since originally passed (ADA) in 1990, judicial decisions have limited the scope of coverage originally intended by congress. The ADAAA legislatively broadens the responsibility and liabilities for employers. All employers need to review the new rules and ensure they are ready to be compliant. Consequently, in the new world of the ADAAA, employers should keep records of accommodations requests made and accommodations denied or provided, along with some evidentiary back-up for the decisions made. Further, consider refresher training of human resources professionals and line managers about the ADA's requirements about the interactive process and reasonable accommodations. The ADA is about to change. Your company's managers need to be ready.	Post the first comment about: Get Ready to Relearn the Americans with Diabilities Act
10/2/2008	HR 7103 Introduced to Congress - tax treatment and reporting of wages paid by professional employer organizations. Source: PEO Legislation Introduced to Congress	Also known as the small business efficiency act. A certified professional employer organization entering into a service contract with a customer with respect to a work site employee shall be treated as a successor employer and the customer shall be treated as a predecessor employer during the term of such service contract.	Post the first comment about: HR 7103 Introduced to Congress - tax treatment and reporting of wages paid by professional employer organizations.
10/1/2008	Administaff Announces Results of Business Survey and Compensation Data Source: Business Wire	Survey of small and medium sized businesses show more caution for 2009. The economy was listed by 81.5 percent of business owners as their biggest concern for 2009 versus 45.8 percent last year. More than 60 percent listed controlling costs as a leading concern, compared to 53.3 percent in Nov. 2007. Rising health care costs were another concern for 43.1 percent of respondents, a slight decrease from 44.6 percent in 2007. Retaining their most valued employees ranked fourth by 31.2 percent of those polled, and 28.9 percent of respondents listed hiring the right people.	Latest Comment: - 11/14/2008 What about product pricing? Read All 1 Comments about: Administaff Announces Results of Business Survey and Compensation Data
9/14/2008	Agencies can offer power in numbers Source: Florida Keys Keynoter	Companies in the Florida keys discuss the advantages of co-employment, employee leasing and PEO arrangements. “It helps me stay more focused on what I do, and that’s construction,” he said. “They keep me more in the field and out from behind a desk. Compared to what I was spending doing payroll myself and paying workman’s compensation, I’m saving at least 30 percent going through them.” A PEO provides outsourcing of payroll, workers’ compensation, human resources and employee benefits administration. It does this by hiring a client company’s employees, and becoming their employer of record. It then leases them back under contract to the original employer. This is known as co-employment, employee leasing or staff leasing.	Latest Comment: - 9/30/2008 Read All 1 Comments about: Agencies can offer power in numbers
9/9/2008	Colorado amends law for employee leasing companies Source: CCH	Colorado lawmakers formally define the co-employment relationship. The law now defines the term “co-employer” as an employee leasing company or work-site employer. The term “co-employment relationship” is defined as one intended to be ongoing, rather than temporary or project specific, and where the rights and obligations of the employer have been allocated between the co-employers by an employee leasing contract. In addition, the employee leasing company and work-site employer are entitled to enforce only the employer rights and obligations allocated to them under the contract. The work-site employer also may enforce any right and perform any obligation not specifically allocated to the employee leasing company by the contract. The terms “covered employee” and “work-site employee” mean an individual who is in an employment relationship with an employee leasing company and work-site employer and has received notice of the co-employment.	Post the first comment about: Colorado amends law for employee leasing companies
9/2/2008	Payroll Issues - Knowing when to ask for help Source: Nevada Business Journal	Article reviews the ever-changing complexities of doing payroll correctly and maintaining legislative compliance. Similarly, more companies are outsourcing to professional employer organizations (PEOs), which provide payroll, workers compensation, human resources and employee benefits administration. However, unlike a BPO, PEOs assume employer risks for their clients via co-employment. The PEO becomes the employer of record for tax and insurance purposes. This industry has evolved to where you can go from being the employer into a PEO relationship and not ever have to worry about or know these rules because the PEO handles it as a co-employer.	Post the first comment about: Payroll Issues - Knowing when to ask for help
9/2/2008	Fast Growing PEOs crucial for small businesses Source: Chicago Business Ledger	Why some Chicago businesses have partnered with a PEO for HR Outsourcing services. The process usually involves one HR professional within a PEO who is designated as a representative for a small stable of clients. When employees in any client company have HR-related questions or problems, they can directly call their representative to get the issue resolved. The value proposition for client companies is that a PEO saves time and labor costs associated with payroll and the administration of benefit plans. In addition, the client company may also be able to offer a better overall package of benefits, which is attractive to more skilled employees.This is especially helpful considering the current state of the economy. When businesses aren’t as profitable, the staff is usually the one of the first costs to be cut, said Lisa Callaway, vice president of the Management Association of Illinois, in Downers Grove.	Post the first comment about: Fast Growing PEOs crucial for small businesses
8/27/2008	The Upcountry Revolution Source: Haleakala Times	How small businesses in Hawaii are increasing efficiencies by joining a PEO. In response to the quiet economy, some businesses are adjusting their hours of operation and staffing, increasing or decreasing as needed, hoping to make it more convenient and appealing for residents to shop locally. Another shift is that businesses are using a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) to run the core functions of a small business such as payroll, insurance, and human resources. Carole Kooy, Maui Chamber of Commerce chair-elect and the owner of KilaKila Professional Employer Services says that in times of economic downturn outsourcing does become an option to alleviate some of the high costs related to owning and operating a business.	Latest Comment: - 9/30/2008 Health Coverage Read All 1 Comments about: The Upcountry Revolution
7/30/2008	Gevity earnings up Source: Bradenton Herald	Gevity earnings show improvement from focusing on core PEO product areas and reducing expenses. Challenges remain due to the Florida smal business environment. During an earnings conference call Tuesday morning, Gevity officials said they expect to gain traction in gaining new clients, particularly since Gevity Edge Select was discontinued and the company's sales force can focus fully on the company's core business as a professional employer organization, or PEO.	Post the first comment about: Gevity earnings up
7/21/2008	Cutting the risk to Workers and the bottom line Source: NJ Biz Journal	Article discusses the cost to employers for work related injuries and reviews OSHA tool that calculates the cost of additional sales needed to make up for impact to workers' compensation costs. The average direct cost of a workers' compensation claim is between $5,000 and $7,000 among the clients of Gevity HR Inc a Bradenton Florida based Professional Employer Organization with and office in Edison, according to Chris Davis the firm's vice president of finance insurance. Most injuries occur when employees are doing manual labor such as lifting heavy objects.	Post the first comment about: Cutting the risk to Workers and the bottom line
7/15/2008	State of Connecticut releases new legislation for Professional Employer Organizations Source: State of Connecticut	Connecticut establishes rules for PEOs who operate in the state including registration with the state. Professional employer organization" means any person engaged in the business of providing professional employer services, regardless of whether such person uses the term or conducts business as a professional employer organization, staff leasing company, registered staff leasing company, employee leasing company, administrative employer or any other name.	Post the first comment about: State of Connecticut releases new legislation for Professional Employer Organizations
6/10/2008	Contractors must verify employees' legal status Source: El Paso Times	Effective June 10, 2008 all contractors and others who do business with the federal government must us the E-Verify system to verify an applicants right to work. Pat Villalobos, president and owner of Barnhart/Taylor, which provides engineering, heating and ventilation, bids on government contracts and has worked on various projects at Fort Bliss. "When it comes to my employees, I keep up with their documents," Villalobos said. "When they come work for me, I ask them for their documents, especially if they're going to be on government property. "The E-Verify system is very user-friendly," she added. "When I use employee leasing companies, the leasing companies verify (in advance) the legal status of the workers they send me. Anyone who is not ready for this will hinder their recruiting efforts, and (immigration authorities) can conduct an audit at any time."	Post the first comment about: Contractors must verify employees' legal status
5/28/2008	State of Colorado passes PEO and Employee Leasing Legislation Source: State of Colorado	Colorado passes legislation that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of companies when hiring a professional employer organization. PEO and employee leasing arrangements have recognized legal status in Colorado. EACH EMPLOYEE LEASING COMPANY SHALL PAY WAGES AND COLLECT, REPORT, AND PAY ALL PAYROLL-RELATED TAXES FROM ITS OWN ACCOUNTS FOR ALL COVERED EMPLOYEES. EACH EMPLOYEE LEASING COMPANY SHALL PAY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION INSURANCE TAXES AND PROVIDE, MAINTAIN, AND SECURE ALL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED OF WORK-SITE EMPLOYERS UNDER THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LAWS OF THIS STATE FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES. FOR UNEMPLOYMENT REPORTING PURPOSES, EACH EMPLOYEE LEASING COMPANY IS THE ONLY EMPLOYING UNIT FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES AND SHALL HAVE the responsibility for unemployment compensation insurance as required of an employer pursuant to the "Colorado Employment Security Act", articles 70 to 82 of this title.	Post the first comment about: State of Colorado passes PEO and Employee Leasing Legislation
5/23/2008	CoAdvantage Resources Acquires Gevity ASO Clients Source: StaffMarket	Article about the CoAdvantage - Gevity deal. Gevity’s foray into the ASO marketplace was the brainchild of former CEO Erik Vonk who departed the company in October 2007. Mr. Vonk led the drive to acquire HRAmerica for $10M in February of 2007. At the time HRAmerica was acquired by Gevity it had 75 clients with 16,000 worksite employees.	Latest Comment: - 5/27/2008 Back to the Basics Read All 1 Comments about: CoAdvantage Resources Acquires Gevity ASO Clients
5/20/2008	Most Small Business Owners Optimistic Source: Jacksonville Business Journal	Administaff survey claims that small business owners are optimistic about growth in the coming year. Nearly 78 percent of owners and managers of small businesses say their companies will meet or surpass growth expectations this year, according to a national survey. The Business Confidence Survey by Administaff found more than 26 percent of employers plan to increase salaries this year, while 50 percent will maintain current wage levels. Sixty-four percent said they expect overtime to remain about the same. The business confidence survey was conducted this month via Administaff Inc.'s database of more than 6,000 small and mid-sized businesses.	Latest Comment: - 6/2/2008 New Sales VP Read All 2 Comments about: Most Small Business Owners Optimistic

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