What is the difference between an EOR and PEO? PEO stands for Professional
Employment Organization. It's a type of service provided by an external entity, which
is very often confused with EOR or even used interchangeably. Both of them can
assist and deliver HR services that can help you expand globally. Admittedly, the two
are similar in some aspects, but there is no doubt that there are also significant
differences between them. PEO is not as widely known as EOR. It is most popular in
the United States, and it is only there that its formal definition can be found. The
introduction of the PEO service was a response to the legal differences that exist
from state to state regarding the employment of personnel. When a company and
the PEO want to expand their operations throughout the United States, it gets much
easier since it is difficult to meet all the requirements on their own and not get lost
along the way. Hardly any company has enough budget to be able to hire local
experts in each state to watch over regulatory compliance. For this reason, a very
high percentage of businesses choose to work with a PEO. The key function of an
EOR is to formally employ the employees of the client company, so that the client
does not have to create separate business entities. In the case of a PEO, it looks a
little different, because the PEO service provider does not employ the employees,
but only assumes obligations arising from their employment similar to those that an
EOR also performs, for example becoming payroll providers or just controlling
business operations for compliance with local laws. This is by far the most important
difference that exists between the two services - the roles performed by these
service providers are very similar, however the Employer of Record simultaneously
becomes the official employer of the employees while the PEO service provider
requires the client company to hire selected candidates and only then assumes its
employment responsibilities. You may notice that some PEO service providers call
themselves "international PEOs." However, this should not fool anyone, because
even then the offer of this type of company is aimed only at potential clients who are
nevertheless ready to set up their own business units in certain jurisdictions or
already have them. A PEO only provides assistance in fulfilling the duties of an
employer, not hiring employees. Although the scope of the PEO service is much
narrower than the EOR, both are very popular and frequently used by companies.
Businesses with multiple entities, subsidiaries and branches that are only concerned
with delegating some of the necessary HR, payroll administration and benefits tasks
are more likely to use the PEO service. This is an option for more developed
companies that already have a stable position in the market. Small businesses just
beginning their international expansion should turn their attention to EOR. It is also
the best solution for those companies that do not plan to set up more business units
in numerous countries in the near future, but nevertheless wish to have employees
from abroad. How does the use of PEO and EOR services look from a formal point
of view? Well, the PEO service provider performs activities for the client company in
the context of HR, becoming a collaborator. However, it has either zero or very
limited legal liability. The situation with an professional employer organization is quite
different, as all the responsibility related to hiring employees falls on the legal
employer. The client company is relieved of all responsibility for personnel matters
and in case of any complications the EOR service provider will be held accountable.
This issue also translates into the way entities operate, as the professional employer
organization is generally more accurate and pays more attention to compliance than
a PEO. This is due to the fact that it is aware of the liability it bears and is keen to
ensure that all business operations are carried out in accordance with local
regulations. The experience of companies that have had the opportunity to use both
EOR and PEO services indicates that EOR shows much greater commitment in
many fields. The professional employer organization places a much higher priority on
regularly updating its legal, business and tax knowledge. Priority is given to learning
about any changes that are made. This gives customers peace of mind about
aligning the company's operations with the latest regulations. Another no less
important thing to consider when comparing EOR and PEO offerings is insurance
policies. Taking a joint operation with a PEO provider involves paying for both the
company's policy and the PEO's policy. This obviously involves increased costs. The
matter is completely different if one chooses to work with a professional employer
organization, because then it is the professional employer organization who provides
the policies to both itself and the employees who are hired through it. Many PEOs
also place requirements on the number of employees they can take under their
coverage. A PEO service provider will rarely take on a client company unless it
manages at least 5 employees. This is quite unprofitable for it therefore it is set for
larger numbers of employees. Such limits are generally not present in the case of
professional employer organization. Companies can undertake cooperation with an
EOR service provider regardless of whether they plan to hire one or ten employees
in this manner.