What are the advantages of outsourcing my human resources department?
What are the advantages of outsourcing my human resources to Tandem HR?
What is a professional employer organization (PEO)?
What is “co-employment”?
What types of benefits can I offer my employees through Tandem?
Do I have to co-employ with Tandem to become a client?
If I co-employ with Tandem, will I lose control of my business?
Are you going to tell me who can and cannot work for me?
Can my employees access their pay stubs or benefit information from Tandem?
Who, from Tandem, will I be dealing with on a daily basis?
How often will my service team members visit my company?
What services are included in your administrative fee and what products and services are extra?
What will my bill from Tandem HR look like?
What does it mean that Tandem HR is ESAC bonded? Why is this important to me?
How can I obtain a quote for Tandem’s services?
If I decide to sign a contract for your PEO services, what are the next steps for implementation?
Will you give me client references similar to my company in size and industry?

What are the advantages of outsourcing my human resources department?
Employers can save time and money by outsourcing their human resource functions to a professional employer organization (PEO). Owners and key executives rid the routine of employee relations, payroll and other HR tasks and concentrate on growing the company. Companies also benefit from economies of scale and enjoy better insurance rates and other HR tools not typically available to small and mid-size companies.

What are the advantages of outsourcing my human resources to Tandem HR?
Many things set Tandem HR apart from the competition.  Check out what Tandem HR clients say or ask us for direct references. 

If you ask us, we pride ourselves on the following:

1. Tandem HR services each client with a high-touch approach.  No 1-800 numbers for our clients.  Our service teams can be reached directly and respond in a timely manner to assist you with any of your HR needs.  
2. Experts handle your human resources.  You will be assigned HR Generalists, Benefits Specialists, a Payroll Specialist and a Risk Manager that will personally know your account and give you guidance best suited to your needs.
3. Tandem HR provides unbundled billing which allows you to see exactly what you are paying for each month.
4. We specialize in creating customized HR solutions whether it's on-site assistance, a particular health insurance carrier or special management training.  Tell us what you need in your human resources to achieve your business goals! 

What is a professional employer organization (PEO)?
PEO is an acronym for Professional Employer Organization. Businesses outsource all employee-related functions to a PEO, including human resource services, employee benefits and payroll administration. PEOs are based on the concept of "co-employment." The PEO and its client business sign a co-employment agreement, dividing duties for administering and managing employees. The PEO becomes the "Administrative Employer" while the client remains in charge of running the business as the "Worksite Employer."

What is “co-employment”?
Co-employment occurs when a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) hires a client company’s employees (including the owners), becoming their employer of record for tax and insurance purposes. This relationship allocates employer responsibilities between a client and the PEO and provides value-added professional employer services to the client company.

Business owners continue to make all decisions centered around the business (such as who to hire, which policies to put into effect and how to run the business). The PEO consults with the owner on issues centered around employees, employment law and compliance.

Your responsibilities typically include:

• Employee supervision
• Manage employee productivity
• Hiring/firing decisions
• Compensation decisions
• Workplace safety/OSHA
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

PEO responsibilities typically include:

• Government compliance assistance (ADEA, EEOC, CRA/Title VII, DFWA, ERISA, ADA, TEFRA, PRWORA and more)
• Liability management / assistance (crisis management resource, injury loss control, retirement plan fiduciary, COBRA, IRCA)
• Employee records maintenance
• Employee benefits (shopping and servicing, better value for dollar)
• Workers’ Compensation (shopping, audits, claims management)
• Unemployment reports / hearings / claims management
• BLS reporting
• Payroll Tax Reporting (941s, W-2s, state and local)
• Payroll processing

You benefit from this relationship with:

• Reduced liability (personal liability; proactive and reactive compliance)
• HR-related expense management (benefits, workers’ compensation)
• Turnover reduction (recruiting, interviewing, selection strategies)
• Better talent attraction (improved benefits)
• Improved employee productivity (training and development resources, more focus on profitability, leverage employee resources)

For more information on co-employment, click here to visit the web site of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO).

What types of benefits can I offer my employees through Tandem?
Tandem will work with you to create an optimal benefit package for your company. We offer our client employees medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. We offer an employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts and voluntary benefits including cancer/critical illness, universal and term life, disability and accident insurance. A Tandem representative will make recommendations based on your company culture, budget and employee needs.

Do I have to co-employ with Tandem to become a client?
Tandem is able to offer companies the best economies of scale through the co-employment relationship. We do recognize that this may not be feasible or favorable for all businesses that could benefit from outsourcing their human resources. We offer an alternative business mode; ask your Tandem representative for a list of ala carte services.

If I co-employ with Tandem, will I lose control of my business?
No. You and Tandem become partners. You retain ownership of the company. Together, we contractually share employer responsibilities and liabilities.

The PEO concept is designed to give business owners more time and energy to focus on planning, strategy, revenue and profits, while leaving employee administration to an outside expert.

Are you going to tell me who can and cannot work for me?
No. All hiring decisions are left to you. Because liability is shared, Tandem assists with hiring and termination guidelines to reduce potential for lawsuits. We do, however, offer recruiting services to assist clients with hiring talent.

Can my employees access their pay stubs or benefit information from Tandem?
Prior to your service implementation and first payroll run, you will have the option to join Tandem in “going green” by electing pay cards or direct deposit with access to paycheck stubs online. Our Self Service Center was developed to give your employees full access to their current and historical pay information as well as other benefit information.

Who, from Tandem, will I be dealing with on a daily basis?
Each client is assigned a Tandem service team typically consisting of two HR Generalists, two Benefits Specialists, a Payroll Specialist and a Risk Manager. Additionally, our Client Service Manager ensures smooth on-boarding and continual service.

How often will my service team members visit my company?
At Tandem, we pride ourselves on our capability to customize a human resource package to fit your company needs. Before discussing our administrative fee, we will identify your company culture, vision and goals to determine your need for on-site human resource experts. Some clients elect onsite visits once a week or every other week. Others prefer monthly or as-needed visits and contact us via phone and email the majority of the time. You choose!

What services are included in your administrative fee and what products and services are extra?
Each business model (PEO, ASO and HRO) will have different items included.  Click here for more information on the differences between business model.  In general, Tandem includes the following in its administration fee for PEO clients: HR administration, regulatory compliance, employee relations expertise, unemployment claims management, benefits consultation and administration, payroll processing and tax administration, risk management, assistance with performance management, compensation and total rewards, employee and management training, retention strategies and advise on recruitment strategies.  These broad topics contain a many items within them.  Please discuss specifics with your Business Development Manager.  Many times the following incur extra fees:  performance management software, recruitment packages, organizational development strategies, workforce planning, individualized performance coaching and time and attendance software.  Tandem passes along large group discount savings on all extra fees to clients.

What will my bill from Tandem HR look like?
Tandem HR has an unbundled billing approach. Click here for a sample invoice.

What does it mean that Tandem HR is ESAC bonded? Why is this important to me?
Employer Services Assurance Corporation (or ESAC) is to the PEO world what FDIC is to the banking industry. ESAC administers an accreditation program for the PEO industry to verify compliance with government regulations and important industry standards. Accredited PEOs like Tandem are backed by bonds providing financial assurance for clients, worksite employees, insurers and regulatory authorities.

ESAC-accredited PEOs submit audited financial statements and quarterly independent CPA verification of tax payment, benefit contributions and insurance premiums. Business owners deserve the peace of mind delivered with this type of financial backing.

Financial assurance to clients, worksite employees, insurers and regulatory authorities is provided through $1 million individual surety bonds covering each accredited PEO plus a $10 million excess surety bond.

Ensure your PEO is ESAC bonded. For more information on ESAC visit www.esacorp.org.

How can I obtain a quote for Tandem’s services?
To learn more about Tandem’s services and get a rough idea of the investment for these services, complete the CONTACT US form or call 630.928.0510 and ask to speak to a Business Development Manager. For a complete quote for Tandem HR services, complete a Business Information Survey and fax to 630.528.3442 or email to sales@TandemHR.com. Tandem understands the information needed to process a full quote is proprietary and confidential and will supply a confidentiality agreement. To obtain a confidentiality agreement, call 630.928.0510 and speak with a member of our sales team.

If I decide to sign a contract for your PEO services, what are the next steps for implementation?
1. Sign Contract and forms – The client signs the Tandem Client Service Agreement, Federal and State Agency Power of Attorneys and an ACH Authorization Form. The client provides Tandem with a security deposit or Letter of Credit equal to one payroll period.

2. Assign Tandem Client Service Team - Tandem assigns a team including 2 HR Generalists, a Payroll Administrator, Benefits Specialist and Risk Manager.

3. Implementation Conference Call - Tandem HR and the client will review the integration process, collect payroll information, schedule orientations, discuss benefit plans and confirm immediate HR needs. The client provides all employment- related tax and payroll information to ensure accurate and timely filings with all local, state and federal agencies as well as all garnishment/wage assignment information. Together we will establish payroll cycles for each department or entity, review and acknowledge your expectations and review communication processes.

4. Conduct Orientation Meetings - Tandem HR meets with your employees to complete all necessary forms. We will discuss the payroll process, benefit forms and information and services they can expect.

5. Set-Up Employee Files - Tandem HR sets up master files for each employee.

6. Process First Payroll - Tandem HR trains your payroll contact on the payroll process, introduces the online Self Service Center, inputs data and reviews the first payroll thoroughly with them.

Will you give me client references similar to my company in size and industry?
We are happy to give you specific references upon request. A standard set of references are included in every sales kit. Contact us at sales@tandemhr.com for specific references or a sales kit.