FAQS

An ASO is an HR outsourcing company that manages your day-to-day HR tasks, such as benefits administration and running payroll. ASO is also referred to as administrative services only, which indicates that they administer benefit plans but do not fund them; the companies they work with come to the table with their own benefit providers and packages in place.

The business model is the main difference between an ASO and a professional employer organization (PEO). Both provide HR services, such as payroll and tax management, human resources consulting, employee benefits administration, risk management, and time and labor management.

Only PEOs sponsor a company’s benefits and use their employer identification number (EIN) to issue payroll and remit an organization’s taxes. This is done through a co-employment agreement in which the PEO becomes the legal employer of a business’s employees.

Known for offering a high-touch service model, an ASO does not require this type of agreement and is frequently offered at a lower cost (compared to a PEO).

Successful companies of all sizes benefit from focusing on their core competencies while outsourcing the time-consuming, non-revenue-producing responsibilities managed by an ASO.

ASOs offer:

• Personalized service. An ASO model allows you to choose the service(s) that you need, so your investment is targeted for maximum benefit. With an ASO, you have access to industry experts who can offer a personalized experience, including tailoring your chosen services to fit your industry.
• Expert advice. An ASO stays up to date on compliance and industry trends across the U.S., with an eye for providing employer best practices and ensuring fulfillment of all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Cost savings. Instead of hiring a team or department to manage back-office administration, an ASO provider handles these vital business functions for a fraction of the cost.

Working with an ASO means you can bundle services or only take what you need, and services can scale as your business grows.

Unify Employee’s integrated business solutions are customized to fit your company’s needs. Organizations in nearly every industry can benefit when Unify administers these essential services and more:

• Payroll: Processing, tax filing, wage garnishment processing, W-2s and 1099s, GL reporting, certified payrolls, and job costing.
• Human Resources: General employment issues, employee handbooks, employee onboarding, E-Verify and Form I-9 requirements, compliance assessments, wage and hour consulting, and performance management.
• Employee Benefits and Administration: Medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and ancillary benefits administration, ACA compliance and reporting, COBRA administration, and employee self-service portal.
• Unemployment Claims Management: Correspondence with state requirements and fact-finding, claims verification and eligibility determination, hearings, and appeals.
• Risk Management: Access to workers’ compensation (WC) coverage, pay-as-you-go, WC risk and safety services, WC audit reporting, including year-end audit package, and EPLI coverage.
• Time and Labor Management: Integrated cloud-based time and attendance system and a variety of time-tracking options.