2020 was a year like no other. COVID-19 tore through the world, causing widespread economic downturn, loss and instability. Many small businesses have been forced to close, while others soared to success.

Undeniably, we’ve learned a lot through the uncertainty of the pandemic. The once overlooked Warren Buffet saying, “it’s only when the tide goes out that you realise who has been swimming naked,” holds more significance now than ever. The businesses who had more capital were more likely to survive, as were companies who had strong management teams. Those businesses “swimming naked” fared the worst; they had very little to cling onto when it all came crashing down.

One critical piece of evidence we’ve garnered from the aftereffects of COVID-19 is that having the right expertise behind a business will give it that extra leg up when the proverbial tide washes out. Our evidence suggests that working with a PEO during times of crisis can do just that.

How can a PEO help during a crisis

Business as usual

A good PEO will generally have systems and protocol in place if a crisis was to occur so that businesses can continue to operate as if it were business as usual.

For instance, let’s say your servers go down, and you’ve temporarily lost all system data and employment information. If you’ve cut back on resources and staff, then this could cause a significant problem for your internal departments. But if you partner with Australia PEO as the co-employer of your staff, we will still be able to undertake payroll processing and leave entitlement admin without the disruptions of a server crash.

Keeping up to date on regulatory changes

Particularly in Australia, we’ve seen a considerable amount of change to our employment regulations, such as Jobkeeper wage subsidies.

As experts in payroll and Australian employment law, Australia PEO will monitor for the rapidly changing regulations. We’ll follow government updates carefully to identify what these changes might mean for your business specifically. We’ll then be able to provide you and your management teams with the tools and resources you need to overcome and adapt to these changes.

Consult on employee safety measures

As co-employer of your staff, we take on half of the responsibility of ensuring your staff are kept safe during the pandemic and long after it comes to an end.

When you seek PEO support for the pandemic through Australia PEO, we’ll monitor the Australian Government Department of Health for updates on the changes situation and endeavour to make sure you understand what these updates mean for your staff, whether that be new work-from-home measures or widespread lockdown orders.

Assist in communicating effectively with staff

Making big decisions about your business is hard enough in normal circumstances but even tougher during a pandemic. If your managing international teams here in Australia, then that can add a whole other level of complexity to managing your teams properly.

When you work with Australia PEO, as your very own Australian based team, we’ll help you to communicate with your Australia workers effectively about the tough decisions you’ve had to make to the business as a result of COVID-19.

Assist in managing remote teams

Going global can be exciting, but it does come with its challenges, especially when managing your teams remotely.

Working with Australia PEO to help employ your staff in Australia without having to form a legal entity in the country to do so, we’re working in the same time zones as your staff and are well versed in Australian employment law. This means that we’d be able to correspond with your staff effectively and in a timely manner.

Looking for PEO support for the pandemic?

Speak to Australia PEO today to find out how working with us could assist your business to survive and thrive during the current crisis.