Do the business
owners lose control of their businesses?
No. The client retains ownership of the
company and control over its operations.
As
co-employers, the PEO and client will
contractually share or allocate employer
responsibilities and liabilities. The
PEO will generally only assume
responsibilities and liabilities
associated with a "general" employer for
purposes of administration, payroll,
taxes and benefits. The client will
continue to have responsibility for
worksite safety and compliance. The PEO
will be responsible for payroll and
employment taxes, will maintain employee
records and reserves a right to hire and
fire.
Because
the PEO also may be responsible for
workers' compensation, many PEOs also
focus on and improve safety and
compliance.
In
general terms, the PEO will focus on
employment-related issues and the client
will be responsible for the actual
business operations.