When running a company, especially a startup, there is neither enough money nor much time to invest in researching deeply about the existing company laws and acts. But should we accept the penalties just because of our ignorance of this matter?
Especially the small running startups with less manpower do not have much time to look at this side. As they are often occupied with their arrangements, management, and other required stuff.
So, if your business is also looking for support and seeking help to avoid the consequences of non compliance, PEO(Professional Employer organizations) is the best solution for you. Now, let us know what a PEO firm is.
What is a PEO Firm?
A PEO firm is an organization that handles all your company’s HR needs as a third party, reducing your burden of hiring an HR. Also, it takes care of all the legalities and saves you from the penalties for noncompliance. PEO is, therefore, a headache reducer for newly grooming startups.
Let us see what can happen if we encounter noncompliance while running our business:
What can Noncompliance Result in?
There are numerous laws that must be followed by a company, such as wage and hour division laws, occupational safety and health laws, medical leaves, etc. However, keeping an eye and applying them needs a keen foreknowledge.
Let’s discuss a few penalties for noncompliance:
1. Fines
It is the financial amount charged against you, which must be paid for not following the legalities. The amount of fine set for the companies may vary on the basis of the country they live in.
Every country’s law has a different perspective about the effect of damage due to noncompliance; thus, the fine varies, too!
2. Imprisonment
One of the most terrible legal punishments is the prison sentence against the owner of the company for being non-compliant with the legalities. Again, the time period of imprisonment depends upon the jurisdiction of the specific countries, which may vary from months to years.
3. Maligning Prestidge
The penalties for noncompliance are not limited to fines and imprisonment; they also damage your reputation. This could actually be poisonous to the growth of your company. It can lead to the agitation of your relations with the existing clients and may obstruct the incoming of new clients, which is, either way, a loss for you.
4. Shutting Down the Business
The aforementioned consequences can lead to the decline and further demise of your company. However, sometimes, an extreme violation of the laws could lead to the shutdown of your company. This will be a huge loss to you and fatal to your dreams.
If you truly want to save yourself from the above mentioned consequences, you need to be extremely cautious with the legalities of the country your business is in. However, if you want to shedd off this headache, PEO is the best option for you.
Now, let us look at a few areas where the penalties for noncompliance can be devastating:
Areas Needing Utmost Attention to Prevent Penalties:
While running our business, we must be aware of a few areas that are at high risk of Noncompliance. Let us discuss a few of them:
1. Worker Safety
You must be well aware of your employees’ working conditions. Their working environment must not be hazardous at any cost. You can be penalized heavily for not providing a safe environment to your workers, especially when someone faces a health issue due to the poor working environment.
2. Wages and Hours
You must offer adequate wages according to your company’s revenue. However, no employee should be paid less than the minimum relevant wage. You must also manage the employees’ working hours to prevent them from becoming exhausted due to excessive office hours.
3. Employee’s other Compensations
You must offer relevant compensation to the workers, such as incentives and commissions, as an extra edge for their outstanding performances or for fulfilling certain reward-paying targets. You can also offer various compensations, like health insurance, house rent allowance, etc., which might motivate your employees to perform better, leading to the overall growth of your company.
4. Unfair Employment Practices
The laws may vary from country to country, however, there are certain areas where discrimination in employment practices is penalized. Discriminatory hiring and firing practices can lead to penalties for noncompliance if the evidence is against you.
Conclusion: How does PEO Act as a Savior?
While raising our startups, we are often busy developing strategies that will lead to the shining of our business. Often, we are occupied with certain important aspects and creative ideas required to make our business prosper. However, we cannot deny the importance of human resources, which is the bedrock of any organization.
HR plays a huge role in attracting, hiring, and retaining skilled employees. In order to prevent the penalties for noncompliance, a deep understanding of the specific country’s law is essential. This might be exhaustive, but no worries, PEO is always there to help you in such cases. PEO acts as a savior, especially when your financial boundaries do not allow you to hire a full-time HR for your business.
Hence, signing a co-employment agreement with a PEO can assure the smooth functioning of your business. This also allows you to spend more time on other aspects of the business, ultimately leading to the company’s growth.