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Question: How do I go about selecting an HRO that is reputable and will be around long-term?
Answer: Accreditation by the industry’s leading HRO organization is the first thing to look for. Doherty has been accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC) since 1995. In order to maintain accreditation, an HRO must subscribe to a strict code of ethics and undergo quarterly audits by an independent CPA firm to verify net worth, timely payment of payroll taxes and benefit premiums, adequate reserves for insurance claims, etc. The accreditation criteria are so stringent in fact, that at this time, there are only a handful of accredited HROs in the United States. In addition to its quarterly audit criteria, ESAC accreditation provides clients of participating HROs with solid protection through the Client Assurance Program, with Surety Bonds guaranteeing financial performance. To learn more, go to www.esacorp.org.
Doherty is also a member of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). NAPEO is the largest trade association for professional employer organizations nationwide. NAPEO has nearly 400 PEO members operating in all 50 states, representing approximately 90 percent of the revenues of the $61 billion industry. NAPEO embraces a commitment to furthering and protecting the interests of its PEO members at all levels of government through proactive lobbying efforts and timely communications on regulatory and legislative issues of interest. To learn more, go to www.napeo.org
You should also review the HRO’s history and talk to several clients. Ask them about the services the HRO offers, which ones they use, how responsive the HRO is, etc. It’s also important to know whether your queries will be answered by an impersonal call center, or whether you’ll interact with a real person – a professional who can provide the answers you need or direct you to another internal expert in a particular area. HRO is all about people. Your HRO provider should be professional – and personal – in all interactions
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