Professional Employer Organization and HR Outsourcing News, Articles and Commentary

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Listing Date	Article Link	Article Review / Excerpt	Reader Comments
8/15/2010	University of Louisville Nucleus Hires a PEO Source: The Lane Report	University of Louisville Kentucky created an economic development entity called Nucleus to leverage the innovations in Life Sciences into the marketplace. Nucleus recognized the value provided by a Professional Employer Organization and has partnered with a PEO to provide their startup with a full suite of HR services. UofL Nucleus has also developed relationships with a number of entities to provide services needed by start-up companies. For instance, UofL Nucleus has entered into a contract with a professional employer organization (PEO) that can provide the full compendium of benefits to a start-up company, including healthcare benefits, as if the small company was a large employer. The PEO also offers back-of-the-office type services such as employment manuals and legal services.	Post the first comment about: University of Louisville Nucleus Hires a PEO
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?
8/7/2010	More Profitable Than Ever Source: Architectural Record	A New York City architecture and engineering firm gets serious about cutting costs and discovers a PEO can provide cost effective solutions for reducing HR and insurance costs. We started by looking at our insurance and benefits," says Carpenter. "As a small firm, we simply didn't have enough people to get good health-insurance rates. We joined a professional employer organization (PEO). It takes care of payroll, benefits, and insurance." One of the advantages for both the firm and employees (who are technically coemployed by the Meltzer/Mandl and ADP) is that they can receive health insurance at far less cost than they could as a small group. Costs for both the employees and the firm, which pays half of the employees' health-insurance costs, have gone down by half. "Our employees are able to get much better insurance than we could offer them." The PEO also carries the firm's workers' compensation insurance, which in the past had been a major expense.	Post the first comment about: More Profitable Than Ever
8/5/2010	The Healing Game Source: Colorado Biz	A PEO executive warns against playing games with employees to circumvent health reform rules for companies with over 50 employees. And larger businesses are creating ways to reap the under-50 rewards, Regalado said. "People are getting very clever about it," he said, referring to talk of firing and hiring back staff. For instance: Maybe a 70-employee company will fire 25 staff members and hire the workers back through an employment staffing company or a Professional Employer Organization, he said. Between the fact that legitimate PEOs "don't play that game," and that the government is sure to rapidly respond to such ploys, Greg Hammond advises scheming businesses to reconsider. The hire-and-fire ploy has been played out before with COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which requires companies of 20 or more to offer extended health care coverage in certain circumstances. A provision was written into the Internal Revenue Code to prevent such circumvention. "That doesn't work. Those employees are still working for you," said Hammond, the chief legal officer for TriNet, a large PEO.	Post the first comment about: The Healing Game
5/16/2010	Employers At Risk For Discrimination Suits Source: The Oklahoman	Article discusses the changing landscape of state and federal employment laws for businesses in Oklahoma. Violation of the law's intact provisions can have dire consequences, said Sandi Ransom, director of human resources at Accord Human Resources, an Oklahoma City-based company that provides businesses nationwide with outsourced HR solutions. "You could be convicted of a felony for driving a truck (of undocumented workers) to a work site, or even driving a friend to lunch," Ransom said.	Latest Comment: - 5/25/2010 Accord PEO Read All 1 Comments about: Employers At Risk For Discrimination Suits
4/18/2010	Capitol Hill Efforts Support PEOs on Health Care Reform Act Source: StaffMarket	Questions surrounding the impact of the Health Care Reform Act on Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) and PEO clients took a positive step on March 30, 2010 when Senator Nelson of Florida discussed the value provided by PEOs to small business throughout the USA and the intent of the legislation to not penalize employers from joining a PEO and thus exposing themselves to the regulatory demands of larger employers.	Post the first comment about: Capitol Hill Efforts Support PEOs on Health Care Reform Act
11/18/2009	Florida Employers Face Large Increase in Unemployment Taxes Source: Tampa Bay Times	Florida's high and climbing rate of claims for unemployment insurance has caused the state Department of Revenue to increase the minimum and maximum rates for employers must pay for SUTA. In addition to the rate schedule changes, the state is increasing the wage base used to calculate the tax, increasing it from $7,000 to $8,500 dollars for every Florida employee. In Florida SUTA taxes are paid wholly by the employer. Get the 2010 Florida SUTA tax rates facts sheet. Notices of businesses' individual rates will be distributed in November and December, effective for wages paid on or after Jan. 1. The increases are needed to replenish the state's trust fund used to pay unemployment insurance benefits. Under state law, if the fund falls below 4 percent of the total taxable payroll in the most recent fiscal year, it automatically triggers an adjustment in unemployment tax rates.	Latest Comment: - 11/18/2009 This is just wrong Read All 1 Comments about: Florida Employers Face Large Increase in Unemployment Taxes
11/17/2009	Frank Crum Signs Deal with Tampa Bay Lightning Source: Tampabay.com	Longtime Lightning fan Frank Crum increases sponsorship and human resources services to the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. As part of the contract announced Tuesday, FrankCrum will provide other services to the Lightning such as employment tax expertise and unemployment claims management. It also will be the team's exclusive provider of staffing services.	Latest Comment: - 11/18/2009 Nice! Read All 1 Comments about: Frank Crum Signs Deal with Tampa Bay Lightning
10/29/2009	Alphastaff Acquires Selective HR Solutions Source: PR Inside	Selective HR Solutions of Sarasota, Florida has been acquired by Alphastaff Inc of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Selective HR Solutions has been part of Selective Insurance with Headquarters on Branchville, New Jersey. According to the press release an estimated 20K worksite employees of Selective HR will be affected by the acquisition and the number of client companies affected was not disclosed. Selective HR has been marketed through their network of Selective insurance agents and the acquisition is being billed as a way for Alphastaff to expand their agent network as well as increase their client count. Alphastaff has committed to maintaining Selective HR's pricing with the affected clients, however the transition planning for clients to move from Selective HR's payroll and PEO platforms to Alphastaff was not disclosed. Starkman noted that a key factor in the deal was the vast potential to increase sales by offering AlphaStaff’s robust product and commission structure to Selective Insurance’s over 900 agents. AlphaStaff will be the only PEO partnering with the insurance subsidiaries of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. for workers compensation insurance pursuant to the terms of the agreement.	Post the first comment about: Alphastaff Acquires Selective HR Solutions
10/2/2009	Vetting E-Verify Source: QDR Magazine	Problems for employers are discussed when social security numbers provided by employees do not match the IRS records and what E-Verify means for employers. Also of concern for quick-service analysts are the added time, cost, and security liabilities E-Verify might bring. Elizabeth Murray is vice president of human resources and chief legal officer for professional employer organization Modern Business Associates. Several of her clients are quick-service owners seeking help in setting up E-Verify for their businesses. Murray says making E-Verify mandatory could place a technological and financial burden on many quick-service businesses that they are not prepared to handle. “A quick-service restaurant that does not have the needed equipment and space, or that does not have back-office support, could find compliance with E-Verify to be difficult and potentially costly,” Murray says.	Post the first comment about: Vetting E-Verify
9/28/2009	Employee Engagement and Transparency Key For HR Professionals Source: The Business Ledger - Chicago	Review by HR experts of the coming changes in the areas of employment laws affecting small and medium sized businesses. Also discusses a new business survey that states that over a three year period the number of businesses that used outsourcing to deal with regulatory compliance has increased from 46 percent to 70 percent. Progressive legislation has created a host of new laws that have complicated the work of HR professionals, said Ross I. Molho, partner in the Wheaton law firm of Clingen, Callow & McLean. “We have a tougher Americans with Disabilities Act and new FMLA regulations,” he said. We have proposals before congress for Paid Family Leave Act. We’ve got something called the Healthy Families Act, which provides for seven paid sick days from employers with 15 employees or more. “The Working Families Flexibility Act includes a statutory right for employees to request a change of schedule. There are various vigorous immigration and customs enforcement laws. Finally we have the Arbitration and Fairness Acts which, for those of you who draft employment contracts, might preclude you from arbitrating in employment disputes.	Post the first comment about: Employee Engagement and Transparency Key For HR Professionals
8/8/2009	PEOs: Recession Proof? Source: Bradenton Herald	Article discusses the business environment for several Florida based PEOs. “Small business leaders have learned that the best strategy to navigate a turbulent economy is to devote their finite resources to what they do best and outsource the rest,” said Burton M. Goldfield, president and chief executive officer of TriNet. “These products give them a customized HR solution that will boost their productivity and profitability.”	Latest Comment: - 8/8/2009 Recession and PEOs Read All 1 Comments about: PEOs: Recession Proof?
7/21/2009	PEOs Focus on employees so you can focus on members Source: ASAE	The CEO of the National Association of Dental Plans discusses the benefits they have gained by using a Professional Employer Organization. However, small associations often have difficulty finding and maintaining good health coverage at affordable rates. Through the coemployment relationship established with a PEO, an association's risk is pooled with other businesses to create stability in coverage and cost. NADP's 2009 rate increase for health coverage is less than two thirds the average rate increase for the Dallas area. PEOs also provide 401(k)s, flexible spending accounts, disability and life insurance, and a host of other benefits that you can tailor to suit your environment.	Post the first comment about: PEOs Focus on employees so you can focus on members
7/2/2009	Arizona Senate to review workers' compensation coverage options for PEOs and PEO clients. Source: State of Arizona	Already passed by the Arizona house, HB 2087 allows PEOs to offer either master policy coverage or individual policies to PEO clients. Insurers will be required to report loss experience at the client level. If a professional employer agreement does not provide for the professional employer organization to purchase workers' compensation for covered employees, the client is responsible to purchase a client based policy for all employees, including the covered employees.If the professional employer agreement provides for the professional employer organization to purchase the workers’ compensation for covered employees pursuant to section 23-562, the professional employer organization shall fulfill the responsibility through an individual policy, a master policy or multiple coordinated policies obtained from a carrier or carriers licensed to do business in this state.	Post the first comment about: Arizona Senate to review workers' compensation coverage options for PEOs and PEO clients.
7/1/2009	ICE Steps up I9 Audits Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement	The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is increasing the number of businesses being audited for I9 verification. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is launching a bold, new audit initiative today by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide - which is more than ICE issued throughout all of last fiscal year.	Post the first comment about: ICE Steps up I9 Audits
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
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
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
3/9/2009	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
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
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
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.
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
9/2/2008	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
7/21/2008	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
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 Read All 1 Comments about: CoAdvantage Resources Acquires Gevity ASO Clients
5/16/2008	Businesses Benefit From Training Source: BLR	ADP TotalSource president discusses using a PEO to help implement training programs that reduce employee turnover and employer liability costs. An alternative to in-house training programs is to work with a Professional Employee Organization (PEO). PEOs provide small- and mid-size businesses with full-service human-resource management and payroll services. A major benefit of a PEO relationship is the access to experts it provides its clients. PEOs are available to help employers through employment related situations. Mark Benjamin is the president of ADP TotalSource, the Professional Employer Organization of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.	Post the first comment about: Businesses Benefit From Training
5/15/2008	Worklife Financial Plans Growth Source: Oakland Business Review	Worklife Financial Plans PEO Growth Through Acquisitions. WorkLife Financial Co. provides financial administration services such as payroll, tax compliance, risk management and succession planning. The company was formed in April by CEO Steve Groulx using outside investment and by acquiring a Dallas-based professional employer organization and restructuring his own company, formerly known as Strategic Business Solutions.	Post the first comment about: Worklife Financial Plans Growth
4/7/2008	Valued insurance far from assured with small companies Source: Rockford Illinois Star	How small companies are creating health insurance options for their employees through self-funded plans or by joining a Professional Employer Organization. To find the right plan, Muldowney turned the research over to Savant’s business manager, Scott Kaiser, who put together several options to choose from.Many companies, though, don’t have the luxury of one staffer with the time and expertise to find the right plan. That’s when they can turn to Staff Management Inc. of Rockford or Miller Buettner Employee Benefits & Communications of Winnebago.Staff Management, started more than 20 years ago by John and Fran Morrissey, is a human resources outsourcing firm. If you own a small company and would like to concentrate on the core business while leaving such tasks as payroll management, 401(k) management and health care to an outside firm, you would hire Staff Management. In this model, your employees become its employees, with the health-insurance plan it has purchased for the more than 1,000 employees under its coverage.	Post the first comment about: Valued insurance far from assured with small companies
3/10/2008	Starbucks and Convergys part ways Source: Daily News and Analysis	Outsourcing and Offshoring are often confused. Starbucks ditches offshoring arrangement with Convergys. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Convergys has call centre and back office operations in Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore among other cities in India. The company recently said in an analyst meet that the deal termination would have no effect on its 2008 or 2009 revenue or income targets for this unit. In July last year, Convergys said it will provide HR administration and payroll services for Starbucks’ partners in the US and Canada, along with benefits services for Starbucks’ partners in Canada.	Post the first comment about: Starbucks and Convergys part ways
2/14/2008	Entrepreneur.com magazine article about PEOs is misguided Source: StaffMarket	StaffMarket president Jim Hamilton replies to Entrepreneur.com business advisor. Most PEOs also offer an ASO product and many ASO offer a PEO product. Whether a PEO or ASO makes more sense for you company depends on your current insurance, HR and administrative service needs. Companies should look at both options depending on their situation.	Latest Comment: - 7/27/2008 I agree with the article Read All 1 Comments about: Entrepreneur.com magazine article about PEOs is misguided
2/12/2008	Gevity Changes Leadership Source: Workforce Management	Article discusses changes in leadership and strategy at Gevity and their return to core PEO services. Based in Bradenton, Florida, Gevity started out as a professional employer organization aimed at small businesses. A PEO serves as a co-employer of the client companies’ employees and takes over a wide range of human resources functions, including payroll, health insurance and workers’ compensation. The company sought to expand into the HR outsourcing business, in which clients could outsource certain services like payroll to Gevity without a co-employment relationship and without having Gevity provide health and workers’ compensation coverage. The HR outsourcing business was seen as a way for Gevity to attract larger businesses that were able to contract for health and workers’ compensation coverage on their own but still sought limited outsourcing of things like payroll as a cost-saving measure.	Post the first comment about: Gevity Changes Leadership
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
12/26/2007	Workplace Trends for 2008 Source: Kansas City Star	Article mentions that employers are gaining HR efficiencies with a PEO. Similarly, expect more small businesses to look for ways to reduce the cost of benefits administration by turning to professional employer organizations. With PEOs, some businesses take advantage of economies of scale and relieve their human-resources staff of some duties.	Latest Comment: - 1/18/2008 Cost of business Read All 1 Comments about: Workplace Trends for 2008
12/5/2007	Employee use of Internet limits needed Source: Chicago Tribune	With holiday season in full swing, employees spend lots of time surfing. That can sound scary to a company owner worried about work time lost to the Internet. But if you are tempted to ban personal Internet use outright, other business owners, labor lawyers and human resources professionals will advise against it. "It's something that becomes sort of an HR-employee relations goodwill issue," said Rick Gibbs, a senior human resources specialist with Administaff, a Houston-based company that provides human resources outsourcing.	Post the first comment about: Employee use of Internet limits needed
10/31/2007	Cedar Hill - PEO Workers Comp administrator is sold Source: Insurance Newsnet	Cedar Hill a large insurance administator specializing in workers' compensation programs for the PEO industry has been purchased by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Cedar Hill Insurance Agency, Inc. is a retail property/casualty insurance program administrator and business process outsourcing firm. They specialize in workers compensation insurance programs for professional employer organizations and temporary service industries throughout the U.S.	Post the first comment about: Cedar Hill - PEO Workers Comp administrator is sold
10/31/2007	SOI - Strategic Outsourcing Inc. plans public offering. Source: CNN Money	SOI plans public offering through Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse for $86.2M. The Charlotte, N.C.-based professional employer organization said it plans to use the proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of a term loan.	Post the first comment about: SOI - Strategic Outsourcing Inc. plans public offering.
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
9/1/2007	Using PEOs to Handle Human Resources and Assist in Employment Law Compliance Source: AICPA	Brief discussion about PEOs from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Rudimentary discussion about how to research a PEO. "We have a PEO because we are competitive, and because of the PEO we stay competitive" says John Maddox CPA.	Latest Comment: - 9/18/2007 Making a choice Read All 1 Comments about: Using PEOs to Handle Human Resources and Assist in Employment Law Compliance
8/30/2007	PEOs Stake Claim to Marketplace Source: The Business Ledger	Chicago based PEOs and HR experts discuss the lack of awareness about Professional Employer Organizations in their area and the advantages for medium sized businesses. "Do your homework and do a cost benefit analysis," said Mary Lynn Fayoumi, president and CEO of the Management Association of Illinois in Downers Grove. "Get multiple quotes from PEOs and make sure that you are getting a plan that is designed for your company and not a vanilla form. Kick the tires and make sure you are happy with what you are paying for."	Latest Comment: - 8/30/2007 Best PEO in Illinois? Read All 2 Comments about: PEOs Stake Claim to Marketplace
8/9/2007	Labor laws force businesses to outsource HR Source: Las Vegas Business Press	Las Vegas based business has $1.14M fine levied by the Labor Department Wage and Hour division for improperly recording employee work hours. PEO owner discusses how outsourcing HR tasks with a PEO can prevent these problems. A PEO eliminates many of the employer responsibilities and liabilities, as well as eliminates non-productive administration functions. It also allows a small business to re-focus on its bottom-line activities, create predictable operating costs, reduce vulnerability to key employee turnover and enhance the perceived value of benefits.	Latest Comment: - 8/24/2007 Not a HR professional Read All 3 Comments about: Labor laws force businesses to outsource HR
7/9/2007	The Bigger Picture: No more HR headaches? Source: Physicians Practice	Many medical practices are considering hiring a PEO. Some of the concerns over costs in the article are a bit overstated. Ronald L. Evans loved the PEO he used as a manager at a nine-physician cardiology practice. “The transition to the PEO went rather smoothly for us,” he recalls. “The practice saved a considerable amount of money on group health insurance expenses, and the PEO afforded our physicians and staff a much wider menu of benefits.” Evans is now executive director of finance and administration of the internal medicine department at The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston. The staff there is also under a PEO beloved for its benefits.	Post the first comment about: The Bigger Picture: No more HR headaches?
5/30/2007	Ceridian to be sold for $5.3B Source: TwinCities.com	HR Outsourcing supplier is being sold to private hedge fund Thomas H. Lee partners. Ceridian traces its corporate lineage back to Control Data Corp. and now is among the largest human-resources outsourcing companies. Despite steady growth, the company ran into difficulties with its largest investor earlier this year.	Post the first comment about: Ceridian to be sold for $5.3B