Professional Employer Organization and HR Outsourcing News, Articles and Commentary

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Listing Date	Article Link	Article Review / Excerpt	Reader Comments
8/11/2010	Should You Outsource your HR? Source: Fast Casual	A tax advisor in the restaurant and hospitality industry provides some guidance for business owners about outsourcing their Human Resource tasks by engaging a Professional Employer Organization. One area of outsourcing that is becoming increasingly popular is the human resources administration function, through the use of a professional employer organization, or PEO. Sometimes referred to as an employee leasing company, a PEO enables you to outsource the human resource management functions, including payroll, employee benefits, record keeping, and workers compensation coverage. However, before deciding to outsource that important function, the restaurant owner must fully consider the benefits and risks of such an arrangement.	Post the first comment about: Should You Outsource your HR?
5/20/2010	Health Care Law will limit job growth Source: Cape Cod Times	Massachusetts business owners and CPAs discuss impacts of state and federal health care credits and laws on their business plans. It's hard to say how these time-consuming new calculations and credits will affect job creation, with the possible exception of government workers and accountants. Fifteen years ago, the average number of employees in a small business was 17; now it's 10. But recently, a "Cape Cod Commission" effect has come into play with more businesses choosing to stay at nine employees to avoid triggering all these expenses, reporting and paperwork, and simply leasing workers if more help is needed. It's worth noting that many employee leasing companies simply choose to pay the penalty rather than try to comply with the government reporting requirements.	Post the first comment about: Health Care Law will limit job growth
12/28/2009	Florida moves to amend UI reporting for Employee Leasing Companies Source: State Of Florida	The State of Florida Senate bill S1062 will require employee leasing companies and Professional Employer Organizations to report employment related data on their clients to the Labor Market Statistics Center within the Agency for Workforce Innovation on a quarterly basis. The motivation for the collection of this information is more accurate information about the employment in various industries and a better understanding of the impacts on the state unemployment insurance compensation funding contributions. "Employee leasing company" means an employing unit that has a valid and active license under chapter 468 and that maintains the records required by s. 443.171(5) and, in addition, is responsible for producing quarterly reports concerning the clients of the employee leasing company and the internal staff of the employee leasing company.	Post the first comment about: Florida moves to amend UI reporting for Employee Leasing Companies
11/2/2009	State of Texas Proposes Updates to Staff Leasing Regulations Source: State of Texas	Texas is considering amending the law regarding employee leasing companies requirements for "net worth" of the PEO to "working capital" among other changes. Proposed rule 72.40 details the proof of net worth requirements for staff leasing services companies, which are set out in general terms in the statute and which are critical for ensuring the performance of the companies’ obligations to their clients and assigned employees. The proposed rules explain the options for demonstrating net worth that are available to staff leasing services companies. They detail the general requirements that are applicable to all options and the specific requirements that accompany each option.	Post the first comment about: State of Texas Proposes Updates to Staff Leasing Regulations
9/29/2009	Colorado Amends UI Laws Regarding Employee Leasing Source: Commerce Clearing House	Brief on SUTA rules for PEO and employee leasing companies in Colorado. The Act now requires employee leasing companies to notify the Division as to whether the company elects to report and pay unemployment insurance taxes as the employing unit or whether it elects to report taxes attributable to employees under the respective accounts and rates for each work site employer. Employee leasing companies electing to report and pay unemployment insurance taxes as the employing unit under its own unemployment accounts and tax rates are permitted to change the election one time after the initial election by notifying the Division no later than the end of the current calendar quarter. An employee leasing company's election to pay unemployment taxes under the respective unemployment accounts and tax rates of the work site employer is final and may not be reversed.	Post the first comment about: Colorado Amends UI Laws Regarding Employee Leasing
9/29/2009	Employee Leasing Rules Eased in New Hampshire Source: New Hampshire Business Review	New law allows PEO Client Service Agreements to specify which party is responsbile for violations of state labor laws. New Hampshire PEO clients should check their CSA for definition of liability. The new law also allows leasing companies to get two workers' compensation carriers, which should give them more flexibility in which occupations to place their workers. The bill does require leasing companies to file audited financial statements with the state.	Post the first comment about: Employee Leasing Rules Eased in New Hampshire
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
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
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
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
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: - 10/30/2008 Read All 2 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
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
5/18/2008	Tampa Bay Companies Persevere Source: Tampabay.com	Brief article about the strengh of Tampa Bay PEOs and employee leasing companies. Bradenton's Bealls defies the national retail chains because it knows the Florida market well. And Clearwater's Frank Crum and Holiday's Southeast Personnel Leasing are big parts of an employee leasing industry that's become densely packed in this part of Florida.	Post the first comment about: Tampa Bay Companies Persevere
5/15/2008	The Risk of Using Independent Contractors Source: New York Law Journal	Misclassification penalties of independent contractors get more attention from the IRS and state agencies. The use of a responsible employee leasing organization is a practical and viable alternative that allows 1099ers to continue to provide services to the company, yet it substantially minimizes a company's exposure to liability under the tax, employee benefits and labor laws. This alternative can dramatically reduce a company's risk of liability and substantially diminish the likelihood of a lawsuit or an audit by a governmental agency. Unlike payrolling companies, an employee leasing organization is a third-party employer. Some or all of the company's 1099ers (as well as its long-term temps, project employees, per diems and consultants) can be hired as employees of the leasing organization, which withholds taxes; makes Social Security, Medicare and unemployment payments; pays Workers' Compensation premiums; and may also provide basic medical and dental benefits and offer participation in a 401(k) plan maintained by the leasing organization.	Post the first comment about: The Risk of Using Independent Contractors
3/19/2008	Professional Employer Organizations can help small companies cut costs Source: San Francisco Chronical	Article covers the basics of how small companies benefit from a PEO. Although sometimes aligned with temporary employment agencies and staff leasing firms, the organization provides a much different type of service. Unlike a temp agency, your employees are intended to be permanent and not moved around to a variety of jobs. In terms of staff leasing, you are not just leasing any employee, you're leasing your own employee. Everything is the same, except that your employee receives paychecks and benefits from an outside firm. The employees still work for you, but all their taxes, benefits and insurance are handled by an outside source.	Post the first comment about: Professional Employer Organizations can help small companies cut costs
2/15/2008	St. Pete Times Commentary on Employee Leasing is misguided Source: StaffMarket	Jim Hamilton, president of StaffMarket Services replies to St. Pete Times editor about E-Verify compliance and employee leasing.	Post the first comment about: St. Pete Times Commentary on Employee Leasing is misguided
2/13/2008	Employee Leasing Companies May Become Singularly Liable for Wages Based Taxes Source: StaffMarket	Bush 2009 budget contains provisions that affect tax liabilities for employer wages Standards for holding employee leasing companies solely liable for such taxes would also be provided for employment tax returns required to be filed for wages paid	Post the first comment about: Employee Leasing Companies May Become Singularly Liable for Wages Based Taxes
2/5/2008	Regions Hot Job Growth Doubted Source: St. Petersburg Times	Article discusses how the growth of Tampa Bay Employee Leasing companies may be skewing local employment growth statistics. As late as last year, Tampa-St. Petersburg's higher-than-average job growth earned the area honors as Forbes magazine's seventh hottest jobs market in the United States. But the accuracy of the numbers has been called into question. That's because the Tampa Bay area is unusual in being home base for dozens of professional employer organizations. PEOs are employee leasing firms to which companies outsource services like payroll and health benefits.	Latest Comment: - 2/27/2008 Regions Hot Job Growth Doubted Read All 2 Comments about: Regions Hot Job Growth Doubted
1/9/2008	Help your Business Thrive in 2008 Source: American Chronicle	Good thoughts on surviving business cycles and outsourcing non-core activities Employee leasing is a fast growing opportunity, growing by over 20% per year. It's a way to outsource not only the employee contingent of the business, but generally the organizational aspect of employees. Most employee leasing groups handle all the Human Resources function for the funds expended. The most important part of any outsourcing arrangement is that the group supporting the business must understand the business core competencies, how the business operates, and what are the end results desired. Moreover, the outsourced group must be able to support the core competencies for which it is working with quality and integrity.	Latest Comment: - 1/10/2008 Good Ideas if we have a downtu Read All 1 Comments about: Help your Business Thrive in 2008
10/1/2007	HR Liaisons Help Small Companies Compete Source: IN Business Las Vegas	Article about Las Vegas businesses turning to PEOs. With employee-leasing companies, small businesses can consolidate their workforces to better compete with corporations for employees seeking a lucrative benefits package. Leasing companies also take over the painstaking chores of payroll, hiring and firing, and dealing with risk management issues, such as workers' compensation. The biggest draw to employee leasing companies is the benefit packages — such as health, dental and 401(k) — they offer.	Latest Comment: - 10/9/2007 PEO's help with health benefit Read All 1 Comments about: HR Liaisons Help Small Companies Compete
6/14/2007	Florida - PEO client based Workers' compensation policies. Source: NAPEO	Florida reviews client based WC policies. The national advocacy group for the PEO industry - NAPEO has indicated it is urging the Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies (BELC) to challenge the legislature's Joint Administrative Procedures Committee's (JAPC) interpretation that current Florida statute does not permit PEO clients to have individual workers' compensation policies. NAPEO is meeting with key legislative leaders and agency staff to defend the PEO industry's position regarding the permissibility of PEO client-based policies.	Post the first comment about: Florida - PEO client based Workers' compensation policies.
5/5/2007	The Human Resource Network Source: Hawaii Business	Business owners in Hawaii discover the advantages of HR outsourcing and using a PEO. The biggest obstacle that the PEO industry has to overcome is the misconception that PEOs handle temporary staffing or employee recruiting. Contributing to the misconception is that PEOs - "professional employer organization" - that handled administrative functions for clients were often called employee leasing companies. Misleading as the term is, "employee leasing" is still sometimes used in the PEO industry.	Latest Comment: - 8/24/2007 Federal EEO-1 Reporting Read All 1 Comments about: The Human Resource Network
1/31/2007	PEOs provide human-resource, payroll services Source: Orlando Sentinel	Business columnist Harry Wessel answers a question from an employee whos' company recently hired a PEO. Question: The company where I've worked for several years recently signed an agreement with another company to take over all labor-relations activities. An "employee leasing" statement we were given to sign expressly acknowledges this new company, which I've never heard of, as a co-employer. It appears to make me an employee of the new company. The statement even says there will be a 90-day evaluation period, during which I could be dismissed for any reason, and that I could be reassigned to another job at the company's discretion. In addition to having to revert to rookie status, I'm worried that, if I sign, it will affect the benefits I've accrued, as well as unemployment benefits should I need them. Can the company legally do this?	Latest Comment: - 2/9/2007 Decent Advice Read All 1 Comments about: PEOs provide human-resource, payroll services
1/7/2007	Employee Leasing Solutions moves to Guard for Work Comp Source: Business Wire	ELS in Bradenton Florida obtains workers' compensation coverage from Guard of Pennsylvania. Susan Shoval, President of GUARD Insurance Group, announced today its intention to expand into the Florida workers’ compensation market through the development of a strategic relationship with Employee Leasing Solutions (ELS), a Bradenton based PEO.	Latest Comment: - 1/8/2007 ELS finally found some work co Read All 1 Comments about: Employee Leasing Solutions moves to Guard for Work Comp
12/4/2006	Kelly Services sells PEO-Staff Leasing business unit to Oasis Outsourcing Source: Yahoo Finance	Oasis pays $6.5M for PEO clients of Kelly Staff Leasing business unit. Carl T. Camden, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "The sale of the Staff Leasing business unit is an important part of our strategy of reviewing our existing operations, selectively divesting non-core assets and reinvesting the proceeds in strategic growth initiatives. Although our staff leasing business is successful and profitable, we will concentrate our resources on growth opportunities more consistent with our large global customer strategy. We're pleased that this transaction provides our staff leasing customers with access to a wide range of professional employer organization services through Oasis Outsourcing, a recognized leader in that industry."	Post the first comment about: Kelly Services sells PEO-Staff Leasing business unit to Oasis Outsourcing
10/27/2006	Is It Time to Outsource Your HR? Source: TheStreet.com	Good overview of HR Outsourcing with a Professional Employer Organization. Generally, a PEO will legally hire a company's current employees, thereby making the PEO the "employer of record" for taxation and insurance purposes. Having the employees of multiple businesses "on staff" allows PEOs to enjoy lower benefits' costs because more employees mean better rates. The employees are then leased back to the original employer (now a PEO client) under a shared-employment contractual relationship, which sets out the powers, responsibilities and liabilities of the parties. This practice is also known as "employee leasing" or "staff leasing."	Post the first comment about: Is It Time to Outsource Your HR?
9/20/2006	Massachusetts Fairshare Contribution Source: Mass.gov	Massachusetts clarifies client level reporting for PEOs under employer fairshare contributions. Employee Leasing Company. A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or other form of business entity whose business consists largely of leasing employees to one or more Client Companies under contractual arrangements that retain for such employee leasing companies a substantial portion of personnel management functions, such as payroll, direction and control of workers, and the right to hire and fire workers provided by the employee leasing company; provided, however, that the leasing arrangement is long term and not an arrangement to provide the client company temporary help services during seasonal or unusual conditions.	Post the first comment about: Massachusetts Fairshare Contribution
9/20/2006	Colorado amends its UI law Source: CCH	Colorado clarifies rules on Unemployment Insurance as it relates to PEOs and employee leasing arrangements. A transfer of experience will not occur when a work-site employer's account is made inactive as a result of entering into a contract with an employee leasing company, or when a contract between a work-site employer and an employee leasing company is terminated.	Post the first comment about: Colorado amends its UI law
8/1/2006	Staff Leasing Source: Oswego County Business	New York state company 'Staff Leasing' thrives. With Staff Leasing concentrating on the aspects of business that aren’t core to an operation like human resources, clients are able to concentrate on their business, whether that is their clients or patients, products, marketing or profits.	Post the first comment about: Staff Leasing
10/27/2005	Employee Leasing Solutions employee wins prize Source: MarketWatch	If only all employees could be this great. Sidney Karr is an 88-year-old courier for Employee Leasing Solutions, an employee benefits and payroll company in Florida. He says he doesn't really need the paycheck but "I want to do something until I get old, and this keeps me occupied."	Post the first comment about: Employee Leasing Solutions employee wins prize
9/20/2005	RMI Celebrates 10th Anniversary Source: Sentinal and Enterprise	Short Article about RMI one of the nation' s largest Hispanic owned Professional Employer Organizations. RMI is a professional employer organization that provides employee leasing to small- and medium- sized companies in New England.	Post the first comment about: RMI Celebrates 10th Anniversary
8/15/2005	How States Differ on Workers' Compensation insurance laws Source: MSNBC Small Business	An excellent article describing the rules, challenges and risks faced by businesses regarding finding and maintaining Workers' Comp coverage. If you're in an assigned risk plan, check with your state's insurance regulators to see if assigned risk policies in your state have higher rates and premiums. If this is the case, then do everything in your power to find coverage outside the assigned risk plan. Talk with other agents, talk with direct-writing insurance companies, talk with employee leasing companies, investigate group self-insurance programs available in your state-but don't let it be your agent's responsibility to get you out of the assigned risk plan.	Post the first comment about: How States Differ on Workers' Compensation insurance laws
12/5/2003	Human Resources Headaches Source: ABC News	This articles discusses the value a professional employer organization relationship can provide for business owners. The practice of "employee leasing" has been around for decades, but the PEO industry picked up speed during the 1990s as employers struggled to keep pace with new employment regulations. The modern PEO functions like a full-service human-resources department, responsible for everything from hiring and training to payroll taxes and personnel management.	Post the first comment about: Human Resources Headaches
10/1/2003	Small-business owners have options when it comes to curbing health care costs. Source: Hawaii Business	Article about health care cost reductions through an employee leasing arrangement. Brown, who also owns a money exchange booth in Waikiki, has eight employees for whom she is required to provide health care. She minimizes costs by leasing her employees from a professional employer organization, which is able to buy health care in bulk and pass on the savings.	Post the first comment about: Small-business owners have options when it comes to curbing health care costs.
5/6/2003	Premium problems Source: Fortune	Article on how to get help with insurance issues. Outsource it. Insurance costs became so unmanageable for Frayda Levin, owner of Regent Book in South Hackensack, N.J., that she decided to enlist the help of a professional employer organization (PEO). Giving a small business the insurance advantages of a large company, PEOs (formerly called employee leasing plans) can lower your costs and still offer your employees a wider choice of carriers. The downside? You can't get your insurance questions answered by your on-site HR department anymore.	Post the first comment about: Premium problems
5/6/2003	How a PEO can benefit staffers Source: Fortune	Quick Q&A on using a PEO. Q: I have a small company with only five employees. If I join a Professional Employee Organization (PEO), will I be able to offer more benefits, such as family leave? What other benefits or drawbacks are there?-- Name withheld A: Whether joining a PEO (also known as an employee leasing arrangement) would be beneficial to your firm is a matter of research. On the plus side: You would remove some administrative work from your "to-do" list. You also would be able to add many employee benefits to the ones you currently offer — usually at lower cost, since PEOs buy large quantities of benefits and can negotiate better deals with vendors than can solo firms. Therefore, benefits such as family leave, pension plans, disability insurance and cafeteria plans, may become more available to your employees, at better pricing.	Post the first comment about: How a PEO can benefit staffers
5/5/2003	Leased employees and stock options Source: Business Week	Article explores the fine lines between contingent workers and regular employees. Increasingly, these workers are professionals hired for specific projects or individuals working full time for PEOs — not temps filling in for someone on vacation. Under a PEO contract, a business places most or all of its work force onto the payroll of a staffing firm, which assumes responsibility for paychecks, benefits, and other human-resource functions. When employee leasing is done right, the staffing agency becomes a human-resources partner for an entrepreneur.	Post the first comment about: Leased employees and stock options