MEETING SMALL BUSINESSES WHERE THEY ARE: EVOLVING WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY

How SMBs and their teams work looks vastly different than it did 10 years ago. The landscape has transformed, driven by technology, evolving employee expectations, and a fundamental reimagining of what it means to be “at work.” The pandemic played a big role in this, as does AI, culture shifts, the political landscape, and the economy. How employers build a team is no longer straightforward. We have adapted as an industry, but we need to continue to do so in order to meet the SMBs we serve where they are.

Today, employees expect flexibility, easy-to-use technology, and quick responses to complicated questions. To effectively support them, we must move beyond simply providing payroll and HR administration to our customers. We need to become strategic partners, offering comprehensive solutions that address the complexities of the modern workplace.

One of the most significant changes is the rise of global hiring and remote work. While this isn’t relevant across all industries, many small businesses are no longer limited by geographical boundaries when it comes to talent acquisition. And, whether through partnerships or owned software, small businesses are going to be looking for providers that will help them grow and manage their teams, no matter where they’re based.

The gig economy and the use of contractors have also become increasingly prevalent. For relevant industries, helping SMBs streamline contractor onboarding, payment, and compliance seamlessly is increasingly important. At Justworks, we’re also focused on providing our customers with a seamless experience to transition these contractors to full-time employees when ready, as this is becoming a common pathway.

In many ways, the modern workforce demands our industry to evolve, but regardless of how the future of work is shaping up, we cannot lose sight of delivering on our core value propositions as PEOs. Pay people on time and compliantly. Offer a suite of benefits that meets the needs of the industry and the customer and be the expert in any given jurisdiction. Be an HR partner to SMBs who might not have an internal HR team.

These stay the same, but how we manifest them might change. For instance, we may need to adjust our compliance strategies. This could involve increasing our overall focus on compliance, or it could mean redirecting our current compliance efforts, particularly to support SMBs in navigating AI-related regulations. The future of work will continue to evolve, and we have to change with it so we can continue being great partners to our SMB customers.