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3 Ways a PEO Can Help Small Businesses with Workers’ Compensation Challenges

Business owner managing payroll and finances on a laptop and smartphone, emphasizing the importance of efficient payroll solutions for small businesses.

Why Payroll Is a Prime Target for Cyberattacks

 

The digital space is continuing to grow and evolve every day. With so much of life conducted online, it’s more important than ever to protect your personal information from vulnerability.

 

Payroll systems, however, have become a prime target for cyberattacks. They contain some of the most confidential employee information that a business manages—including Social Security Numbers, tax identification numbers, addresses, salaries, and direct deposit information. A single breach can expose hundreds of records—if not more—leading to financial fraud, identity theft, and compliance violations.

 

Cybercriminals may not even need to break into a company’s system to gain information. They may simply trick an employee into handing over credentials or clicking on a malicious link, making payroll fraud prevention crucial for any business. It’s essential for business owners, HR managers, and IT directors to know how to protect their employees and prevent data breaches.

 

Let’s dive into the types of threats facing payroll systems today, what businesses risk without proper security, and how PEOPayGo prioritizes cybersecurity in payroll services.

 

Types of Threats Facing Payroll Systems Today

 

There are many types of threats facing businesses that may not even require a hacker to gain access to their payroll system. Let’s take a look at some of the most common cybersecurity threats.

 

Phishing

 

Phishing scams occur when cybercriminals trick individuals into providing sensitive information. Many attackers will impersonate someone from the HR or IT department and send fake emails to employees to steal their login credentials.

 

Ransomware

 

Hackers may use malicious software to lock payroll systems until a ransom is paid. If the company chooses not to pay the ransom, the cybercriminals may leak the stolen data.

 

Insider Threats

 

Insider threats come from the organization itself rather than someone outside of it. Unhappy employees or contractors could misuse their access to payroll data.

 

Insecure Integrations

 

In some cases, attackers find poorly secured third-party apps connected to the payroll systems and take advantage of those vulnerabilities to get the information they want.

 

Weak Passwords

 

When employees create weak passwords or fail to use the multi-factor authentication, it makes it far easier for hackers to guess their credentials and break in.

 

What Businesses Risk Without Proper Security

 

A lack of security can have a major negative impact on a company. Here are some of the things that businesses risk when they don’t have proper security in place.

 

Financial Loss

 

Companies can face significant financial losses during an employee data breach. From incident response and legal fees to lost revenue and reputational damage, the impact of financial loss on a company can be drastic.

 

Employee Trust

When personal information is compromised, employees may lose confidence in their employer. When trust dwindles in the workplace, employees tend to walk away.

 

Operational Downtime

 

The financial loss and legal consequences that stem from compromised payroll systems could result in payroll delays and operational downtime.

 

How PEOPayGo Prioritizes Cybersecurity in Payroll Services

 

Professional employer organizations (PEOs) take on the administrative tasks of businesses like payroll, workers’ compensation, benefits administration, and risk management. Because they’re regularly handling sensitive employee information, cybersecurity is essential. Here’s how PEOPayGo prioritizes security in their payroll services.

 

End-to-End Encryption

 

This is a security method that ensures when messages are sent via their platform, only the sender and receiver can read them.

 

Multi-Factor Authentication

 

By requiring more than one form of identification, multi-factor authentication ensures only verified users can access payroll systems.

 

Regular Security Audits

 

Trusted PEOs want to make sure they’re in compliance with industry regulations and best practices. PEOPayGo undergoes third-party security audits in order to maintain that standard.

 

Role-Based Access Control

 

Ensuring permissions are granted based on user roles means a lower possibility of security threats from within the company.

 

Employee Training and Awareness

 

PEOPayGo implements training programs that help keep employees educated on how to spot phishing attacks and manage payroll securely.

 

Secure Your Payroll Data with PEOPayGo’s Trusted Protection

 

A payroll breach can be detrimental to your company. When you partner with a trusted PEO like PEOPayGo, you can rest assured that your systems are secure. If you’re ready to secure your payroll data with PEOPayGo, reach out to their team of experts today.

 

Contact us today to get the coverage and support you need!

Small businesses help keep their communities thriving, but being a small business owner comes with its challenges as well. If you own your own company, you likely have your hands full with projects and ideas. While handling the day-to-day tasks is necessary to keep your business running smoothly, strategy, creation, and growth are likely areas where you’d rather send your attention.

 

A professional employer organization (PEO) can manage your company’s administrative tasks like payroll, workers’ compensation, and human resources so that you have more time to focus on what you do best. Let’s take a look at the importance of workers’ comp for small businesses, some challenges that might arise, and how partnering with a PEO can help.

Why is workers’ compensation important for small businesses?

No matter the size of your company, protecting your employees is a top priority. Providing safe working conditions and financial protection for your workers if an injury does occur is imperative for being a great business owner.

 

Workers’ compensation insurance is required by law in most states. Even in states where it isn’t mandatory, however, it’s still a good idea to have coverage in place.

 

 

If an incident happens on the job, workers’ compensation insurance can cover medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. For you as a business owner, workers’ comp can help prevent you from paying out of pocket for an employee’s medical expenses after an accident.

Workers’ comp challenges in small businesses and how PEOs can help

Workers’ compensation can be a pain point for some small business owners due to its cost and complexity. While larger corporations typically have the financial resources to handle overhead, it can be difficult for small businesses to manage. How can working with a PEO help combat the challenges small businesses face when it comes to workers’ compensation?

1. PEOs help streamline the somewhat complex process of workers’ compensation

Managing workers’ comp can be somewhat tedious and time-consuming, and for small businesses with limited manpower, it can be incredibly challenging. From the confusion of calculating premiums to handling the complexities of claims, it’s a lot to manage—particularly when you have countless other tasks on your plate.

PEOs can help streamline the process by integrating workers’ compensation into payroll. They also handle everything involved with the claims process—from taking care of the paperwork to communicating with insurance and the injured employee.

2. They offer flexible pay-as-you-go programs so you only pay for what you need

With traditional workers’ compensation, businesses typically pay an estimated premium upfront to cover the entire year. At the end of the year, the insurer will perform an audit to determine the exact cost, based on things like payroll and the number of employees. This means you could be reimbursed at the end of the year, or you may actually owe money for the difference.

 

PEOs offer pay-as-you-go programs that are perfect for small businesses that may not be able to afford a lump sum at the start of the year. It’s also great for companies who hire short-term workers’ on a project-by-project basis. With a pay-as-you-go program, you’ll pay only for what you need during the periods of time you need it.

3. PEOs implement safety training programs to help avoid future incidents

No matter the size of your company, risk management is crucial to help keep your workers safe on the job. Small businesses may not always have policies in place to help keep the workplace safe the way a larger company typically does. PEOs may implement safety training programs to help mitigate potential injuries.

In addition to helping prevent injuries from occurring, PEOs also play a role in helping reintegrate employees back into the workplace after recovering in the event an accident does take place.

Partnering with a PEO as a small business

No matter the size of your company, risk management is crucial to help keep your workers safe on the job. Small businesses may not always have policies in place to help keep the workplace safe the way a larger company typically does. PEOs may implement safety training programs to help mitigate potential injuries.

 

In addition to helping prevent injuries from occurring, PEOs also play a role in helping reintegrate employees back into the workplace after recovering in the event an accident does take place.

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