Workers’ compensation is crucial for any organization—no matter the size—and it’s legally required in most states. Workers’ comp insurance helps ensure that your employees are financially covered if they get injured on the job. It also helps protect both your company and you as a business owner from needing to pay out of pocket if an accident occurs.
Managing workers’ compensation, however, can be a tedious and time-consuming task. For small and mid-sized businesses, having the manpower necessary to efficiently handle workers’ compensation can be a challenge.
What if there was a way to outsource human resource services like workers’ compensation so that you and your employees could focus on your strengths and spend more time growing your business? Partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) could be a great option for your company. Let’s dive into what PEOs do and why small and mid-sized businesses are turning to them for their workers’ compensation needs.
What are PEOs?
PEOs are organizations that manage human resource services for other companies. When a company works with a PEO, it’s often known as co-employment, though the PEO won’t have the freedom to hire or terminate employees as they choose.
By outsourcing things like payroll, benefits, and workers’ compensation to a PEO, businesses have more time and energy to put toward growing their company. Partnering with a PEO can be particularly helpful for small or mid-sized businesses that may not have the resources to handle HR services on their own.
The importance of workers’ compensation
No matter how many employees you have, having worker’s compensation is always a good idea. It safeguards your employees as well as you as a business owner in the event someone gets injured at work or becomes ill as a direct result of their job.
Workers’ compensation can help cover the costs of medical expenses and rehabilitation if necessary. It can also provide benefits for anyone who may have sustained a permanent injury and can no longer work. Lost wages during recovery and support throughout reentry into the workforce are also covered by workers’ compensation.
How PEOs can help with workers’ compensation
Workers’ compensation insurance can be both expensive and complex. While larger corporations may be able to handle the cost of workers’ compensation with ease, it can be more challenging for small and mid-sized businesses.
PEOs typically offer coverage at reasonable rates, and in some cases even offer pay-as-you-go programs. For businesses that offer mainly short-term contract work, pay-as-you-go options are great because they allow the business to pay only for what it needs, for the amount of time it’s needed. Allowing you to pay solely for what you use can help save drastically in the long run.
The complexity of workers’ compensation can be overwhelming. As a business owner, you likely have countless other tasks or projects on your plate to help keep your company thriving, leaving limited time for the essential administrative tasks. When you partner with a PEO, you’re putting an expert in charge of what they do best. They’ll provide coverage and handle any claims as they arise—saving you valuable time and money.
PEOs can also help you put safety programs in place for your employees, as well as reentry programs for injured employees as they recover. Effective safety programs mean fewer injuries at work—a benefit both for your employees and for your business. Reentry programs are great for supporting employees as they ease their way back to work, which helps boost morale and employee retention rates.
If you own a mid-sized business, keep these things in mind and consider partnering with a PEO for support with your workers’ compensation needs.