Introduction
The American market beckons; it’s a land of opportunity ripe for foreign-owned businesses to flourish. Yet, the complexities of US employment regulations can quickly turn that excitement into a tangled web of worry. Payroll taxes, benefits, and equity arrangements—the list goes on, and each demands valuable time and local knowledge. But what if there were a way to confidently navigate these hurdles, freeing you to focus on what truly matters: growing your business?
Enter PEO—Professional Employer Organization. PEOs provide turn-key outsourced HR, managing critical payroll, benefits, and compliance functions for hundreds of thousands of businesses with a US entity. For over 60 years, PEOs have been a model of hiring efficiency in the US and have steadily increased in uptake as employment regulations across the 50 states become more complex and risky.
PEO+ is an innovative solution from Foothold America designed to meet the unique needs of foreign-owned businesses landing, expanding, and scaling in the US.
PEO+ Cross-Border Support™ enhances the traditional PEO remit by offering a comprehensive suite of HR services, supplemental administrative support, and local knowledge that streamlines HR, saves time, and ensures compliance. Most importantly, it protects foreign-owned businesses from knowledge gaps, costly mistakes, and an overstretched HR team.
Here’s how PEO+ empowers you to conquer the US market with confidence.
1. Acquire Top US Talent with Confidence:
Crafting comprehensive benefits is crucial for attracting and retaining top US talent. Knowing you’re offering impeccable benefits promotes confidence and success in candidate acquisition. However, navigating equity arrangements, deciding employer benefit contributions, and ensuring competitive leave plans ineffectively can derail the recruitment efforts of vital hires. With PEO+, we help you skillfully navigate these decisions so you can offer a compensation package that stands out to US job seekers. Our PEO+ team guides you through all of it, saving you valuable time and resources.
2. Top-notch Onboarding:
While traditional PEOs manage many tasks, onboarding isn’t one of them. With PEO+, the onboarding process becomes a breeze. Our dedicated team crafts a bespoke onboarding process with you, artfully melding your company culture with US best practices. This includes state-specific offer letters, right-to-work documentation, and employee income tax submissions, culminating in a smooth transition for your new team members. A positive onboarding experience is critical for retention, as evidenced in SHRM findings (Society for HR Management), which show that negative onboarding experiences result in twice the amount of first-year turnover.
3. Cross Border Support™ – Your Advantage:
Expanding into a new market entails navigating cultural differences and hours of timezones. Misunderstandings and delays can arise quickly, negatively impacting your US team’s productivity and morale. PEO+ presents a unique advantage: Cross Border Support™. Our dedicated HR and Client Service teams strategically located in the US, UK, and Europe bridge the gaps with their broad understanding of HR across many countries. We understand the nuances of international business, fostering a smooth and collaborative work environment for your entire team.
4. Compliance Assured:
US employment regulations can be a labyrinth, with new twists and turns appearing around every corner. Staying compliant in-house requires a dedicated HR team with deep knowledge of the ‘alphabet soup’ of US employment law – ACA*, ADA*, ADEA*, EEOC*, FLSA*, and FMLA*, to name a few. PEO+ eliminates this burden. Our compliance promise saves you from inadvertent missteps that can decimate even small companies- 30-employee company fined $240M over EEOC claims.
* ACA (Affordable Care Act)
- Healthcare.gov: This is the official website for obtaining health insurance through the ACA marketplaces.
*ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
- ADA.gov: The official website for information about the ADA.
- Link: https://www.ada.gov/
*ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
- EEOC website: While there isn’t a specific ADEA website, the EEOC enforces the ADEA. You can find information about age discrimination on their website.
- Link: https://www.eeoc.gov/
*EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
- EEOC website: The official website for the EEOC.
- Link: https://www.eeoc.gov/
*FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Information on the FLSA can be found on the Department of Labor’s website.
*FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Information on the FMLA can also be found on the Department of Labor’s website.
5. Expert Guidance Throughout Your Journey:
Onboarding your first employee may be the beginning of your journey. Your US workforce will grow as you succeed, meaning your employee operations need to evolve. Foothold America has helped thousands of international companies land, expand, and scale in the US. In challenging times, they may downsize before growing again. Your dedicated HR & Client Service Manager, supported by our expert teams, is by your side to make the tough decisions compliantly and seamlessly to navigate people operation changes.
How do you navigate cultural differences in the workplace? How do you merge your home country’s employment policies with US regulations? With extensive US and international HR experience, our team offers expert advice on complex issues, ensuring a smooth transition for your business. This could be anything from crafting compliant employee handbooks to developing effective HR strategies and policies for your US workforce. Knowing you have a trusted partner gives you peace of mind.
Ready to Win the US Market?
Don’t let US employment complexity hold you back. Contact Foothold America today to learn how PEO+ can streamline your HR, save time, and empower you to focus on achieving your US expansion goals. Let PEO+ be your key to unlocking success in the American market.
Laurie Spicer
UK Based
Over 25 years experience doing business in North American, European, and Asian markets with a primary focus and specialism on the complexity of the US market.
Lamar Manning
UK Based
Experienced HR professional with over 11 years of experience in driving business growth. Possessing dual US and UK citizenship, Lamar has experience in US HR, payroll and recruitment, bringing a unique perspective and international expertise to his approach.
FAQ’s
Yes, to use PEO+ services, your company will need a US entity, a US Employer Identification Number (EIN), and a US bank account. However, Foothold America can help if you want to avoid establishing a US entity. We offer an Employer of Record (EOR) service that allows you to hire US employees without setting up your own US entity.
PEO+ offers various ongoing support services, including payroll administration, audits, escalation management, and access to a dedicated HR team. We act as your trusted partner, ensuring a smooth experience with US employment.
Yes, PEO+ provides a degree of customization for your benefits package. You can choose from various plans and options to tailor the program to your budget and employee needs
PEO+ costs vary depending on several factors, such as the number of employees you need to hire, their salaries, and the benefits you offer. Foothold America can provide a customized quote based on your specific needs.
Yes, Foothold America can assist you with transitioning to PEO+ from your existing provider. We will handle the communication and ensure a smooth transfer of your employee data.
The timeline can vary depending on your company’s specific needs. However, Foothold America’s team of experts can streamline the onboarding process and get you up and running quickly.
