Like PEOs, the shops and vendors on the boardwalk by the ocean offer a variety of yummy and fun things. How do you decide? Burgers or hotdogs? Popcorn or pretzels? A walk on the beach in your new flip flops or a bike ride?
Patrons on the boardwalk may be drawn in by the sound of burgers sizzling on the grill, the aroma of freshly popped popcorn, or the stacks of colorful flip flops. Small business owners may be drawn to your PEO through your online advertising, a call from one of your salespeople, or a search of the NAPEO online “Find a PEO” directory.
Like the beachgoer who wants to make sure the burger is juicy, the butter on the popcorn is real, and the flip flops are comfortable, your small business owner prospect will discern the value of using your PEO by what is on the inside.
At the end of 2014, you were excited about the passage of the Small Business Efficiency Act (SBEA) and the possibilities it brought to the PEO industry. Voluntary certification didn’t seem like it would be that difficult and the benefits of being an IRS certified PEO would outweigh any of the costs of certification.
On December 12, 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a resource document for applicants and employees with mental health conditions about their workplace rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The publication also addresses workplace privacy rights, such as confidentiality of medical information and the process for requesting and documenting the need for a reasonable accommodation relating to a mental health condition.
What is employee experience and how do organizations create that experience? We have found it means different things to various organizations, and at ESC, we work with our clients to help them create and live a culture where the employee experience is positive and energizing. When our clients ask us about employee experience, we share with them that it is a practice that should mirror the customer experience.
I’ve researched, surveyed, and interviewed more than a few hundred PEOs. All leaders say they want to net a positive predictable growth metric of ~25 percent year over year. They also want this growth with low to moderate risk and moderate to high returns.
From payroll processing, workers’ compensation, and HR services, to benefits and tax administration, risk management, and regulatory compliance, PEOs provide critical support to small businesses in a variety of key areas. While beneficial, these services require the storage and transmittal of highly sensitive information such as Social Security numbers (SSNs), direct deposit information, birth dates, addresses, dependent information, and more. Who is responsible for safeguarding this data? Is it the PEO, its service provider(s), the client, or even the client employees? Though some may argue it is all of the above, there are several key ways the PEO and its service providers can mitigate (not eliminate) security risk.
Among the many value-added benefits PEOs offer to their clients are retirement plans and health and welfare plans. If you have worked at other employers in the past, you have no doubt participated in such plans, but working in the PEO context creates a new twist on such programs.
Bo Schembechler, former head football coach at the University of Michigan, was well known for his simple phrase, “Grow or die.” It’s a short phrase but it carries a lot of meaning. People, businesses, economies, churches, and even countries are doing one or the other—growing or dying. With his philosophy, Bo won 80 percent of the games he coached at the University of Michigan, he prepared hundreds of students to become successful NFL players, and he mentored many to become prosperous football coaches at various levels. Therefore, if you aren’t focused on growth, you are destined to die.
It’s been a busy month here at Global HQ—lots going on. We began the process of soliciting nominations for the NAPEO Board of Directors. By the time you read this, we will know the slate the board is recommending to the full membership for ratification at our Annual NAPEO Membership Meeting in Orlando on September 7. Once again, there was a high level of interest, with about two dozen nominees for a handful of seats. This is a good problem to have, as it shows a healthy organization, but it doesn’t make the Nominating Committee’s job any easier.
Scott Stratten, president of Un-Marketing, travels the world speaking to audiences about the benefits of embracing the age of disruption. A leading speaker on this topic, Scott uses his dynamic style to captivate audiences to show that trust, connection, consistency, and service will always trump any new app to hit the market. Scott will keynote NAPEO’s Annual Conference to show attendees what is real and what are only smoke screens in today’s business world. Check out our quick chat with Scott for a preview of his energy, passion, knowledge, and humor.
As the majority of state legislatures adjourned over the summer, you may have assumed that the hazy days of summer slowed things down for the NAPEO State Government Affairs team. In reality, things were and are still quite crazy. The long summer days are used not only to prepare for the next legislative year, but also to continue tracking the state regulatory process, special legislative fiscal sessions, and the states that remain in session.
A former member of NAPEO’s Board of Directors, Carlos Rodriguez knows the PEO industry inside and out. Former CEO of ADP TotalSource® and current president and CEO of parent company ADP,® Carlos’ journey from the beginnings of the industry to today makes him an industry legend. Join us as he recounts his vast experience and talks about things to come.
On June 1, the IRS announced that it had approved 84 PEO applications for certification. It finally happened. And it only took 20 years. In 1997, then Reps. (now Senators) Rob Portman (R-OH) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced the first version of the Small Business Efficiency Act (SBEA). Through many edits, parliamentary twists, and legislative turns, Rep. Kevin Brady was able to attach the SBEA to a larger tax bill that was signed by President Obama in December 2014. After an additional two and a half years of rulemaking by the IRS (two full years behind the congressionally mandated deadlines), the IRS was able announce on June 1 that it had approved 84 PEO applications for certification. The IRS also stated that additional approvals would be forthcoming.
Q: We keep hearing about more changes to the idea of joint employment. What sort of update can you offer? A: Several decisions in recent years, particularly Browning-Ferris Industries of California (Browning-Ferris), have called into question decades of precedent regarding what it actually takes to be looked at as a joint employer. The Browning-Ferris decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is considered to have changed the NLRB joint employer standard from one of direct control to that of indirect control, a standard that naturally creates concern within the PEO world.
The sense of duty and the pleasure we feel when giving back to the community are engrained in the fabric of our team of professionals at InTANDEM HR, and there is no shortage of opportunities! For starters, all full-time employees on our team are given 16 hours of paid volunteer leave for each year they work. With this time, employees can seek out their own volunteer opportunities through any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Many of us have benefitted ourselves and our favorite non-profits by taking advantage of this company-sponsored paid leave time.
The Florida Panhandle—what locals affectionately term the “Redneck Riviera” or “Florabama”—is a sought-after destination for many vacationers. The seemingly endless miles of pristine white sand and emerald waters offer visitors and locals alike plenty of opportunities for family fun. On any given summer night, you will find throngs of spectators singing along and dancing to live music at local establishments. One of the Panhandle’s hottest and most popular bands is a classic rock band called The Rowdies. During the peak season, band members will play up to five nights per week.
President Trump spent much of last week [June 12 to 16] drawing attention to a major problem facing our nation: the lack of properly trained workers to fill open jobs. His efforts came on the heels of government data released earlier in June showing that the number of job openings rose to a record high of 6 million in April, yet the pace of hiring slipped to a one-year low—evidence that the economy is running out of qualified people to fill vacant positions.