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Of the professional employer organization (PEO) service providers we reviewed, TriNet stood out for its expert customer support, particularly for industry-specific HR needs. The company can build an expert human resources (HR) support team around your business’s industry, size and location. This customized team ensures you have access to experts who have direct experience with businesses like yours.
TriNet’s tailored PEO plans are charged per employee, per month, and they can include employee benefits, workers’ compensation insurance, risk management software, payroll processing, retirement plans and training resources. For these reasons and more, TriNet is our pick for the best PEO provider and the best HR outsourcing (HRO) service for businesses that want PEO support tailored to their industry.
TriNet’s PEO plan includes bundled HR services, such as payroll, risk mitigation, employee benefits and a technology platform. TriNet is one of the few HR outsourcing providers we looked at that takes their customer service a step further with its customized support. The Connect 360 platform gives you direct access to the HR, payroll and benefits information you need, allowing you to connect with HR experts 24/7.
You’ll also be assigned a dedicated relationship manager when you enroll in TriNet’s PEO services. This client relationship manager can help guide you through nearly every HR-related need, from developing company policies to getting support if you need to terminate an employee.
Beyond day-to-day customer support, TriNet PEO clients also get access to talent and organizational consultants who can help you navigate the changing business landscape. If you’ve got a question about the rise of AI, for example, these consultants are the ones who can help show you the way.
TriNet can also match you with specialized experts who can advise you on industry-specific HR questions. While some PEOs may have expertise in a small handful of sectors, TriNet stands out for the breadth of industry expertise within its team. You’ll find representatives with experience in verticals such as finance, tech, non-profits and education, to name a few.
TriNet features a user-friendly, intuitive technology platform that is easy to navigate. When we tested the software, we found TriNet’s web-based dashboard clear and simple to understand, providing us with an at-a-glance overview of our team’s information, as well as the ability to track every stage of employee management from hiring to offboarding.
In one place, we could review workforce analytics and, in a few clicks, were able to access more than 30 pre-built reports organized by category (e.g., human resources, benefits, payroll and accounting, payroll tax, talent). These pre-built reports offered plenty of insights, but we were also able to develop custom reports that drilled deeper. In less than 10 minutes, we were able to create a custom report that compared total compensation across our team, for example. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of creating a custom report yourself, TriNet’s team will build unlimited custom reports for you.
All reports can also be easily automated and shared. If you need your finance team to review a payroll report on a bi-weekly basis, for example, you can easily schedule the report to be sent when needed. Reports can be downloaded as PDFs, Excel spreadsheets or CSV files, which is on a par with industry standards.
TriNet also makes it simple for your employees to independently manage their own HR information, too. Through the company’s self-service mobile app, available for iOS and Android, employees can view information such as payment details and benefits, as well as manage functions like expenses and time-off requests. Admins can use the mobile app to review and approve payroll on the go, which helps ensure timely employee payments.
If you don’t want to take the time to navigate to a specific feature, even with TriNet’s user-friendly layout, you can use TriNet AI to assist. This secure and private conversational AI agent can get you answers and help you complete tasks easily. For example, we asked the AI to pull information about upcoming PTO and to update tax withholdings; it was able to handle all that without requiring us to navigate through the software ourselves.
TriNet users can schedule custom reports to run automatically. This feature is competitive with offerings from other HR service providers.
TriNet has extensive offerings in HR, benefits, payroll, risk management and compliance. You’ll have access to a full selection of features, with a team of experts in each area who are dedicated to providing your business with the right support.
TriNet designates HR teams by industry, size and location, so your team of HR, payroll, benefits and risk management specialists will be experienced and skilled in your field. The company also provides standard HR services, including recruitment, applicant tracking, employee onboarding, HR reporting and analytics, performance management, handbook and policy development and termination and dispute assistance.
During a demo, TriNet representatives explained to us that unlike many PEOs, dispute assistance is included in every case. Even if a client takes an action that goes against previous TriNet advice, you can still count on their support if you need it.
When we tested the platform, we saw firsthand just how easy it is to recruit and hire new employees with TriNet’s in-house applicant tracking tool. The system can automate some functions for you, easing the burden on your HR staff.
TriNet partners with thousands of small businesses, so you’ll get access to several quality healthcare plans at reduced rates. TriNet provides extensive employee benefits including: health, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, commuter benefits, accident and illness policies, auto and home policies and wellness programs. It can help manage your Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) compliance and even offers employee access to marketplace discounts on several well-known brands.
From the admin side, TriNet makes it easy to administer quality employee benefits, while those on the employee side can easily choose a plan that’s right for them. The benefits feature includes a clear comparison of all plan options and costs. While TriNet legally can’t tell employees which plan to choose, the Healthee tool makes personalized recommendations based on a series of questions, so your team members can make informed decisions about their healthcare options. Even if a new hire opts for a more costly plan, employers won’t have to pay any more than they wish to contribute.
Employees can also pose questions through TriNet’s Health Advocate tool, which we found especially helpful when employees have questions about bill disputes. The Health Advocate will either explain the reasoning behind the bill or begin the process of disputing with their healthcare provider. It’s yet another way TriNet makes it easy for employees to resolve issues directly with TriNet without burdening their own HR team.
TriNet can help small and midsize businesses (SMBs) run payroll and manage business expenses. The platform’s HR services include software that supports online payroll processing, direct deposits, earned wage access, time-off tracking, expense management, compensation benchmarking and other employee payroll tasks.
TriNet handles all of your payroll tax responsibilities, including withholding federal, state and local taxes and then filing and submitting the withholdings to the appropriate parties. The company also manages electronic W-2 preparation and delivery, as well as unemployment taxes and claims. Companies with simple payrolls can even run it right from the mobile app. We found this to be competitive with other HR solutions we reviewed.
If you have contractors or international workers, TriNet can support them too. With TriNet Contractor Payments, users gain access to an intuitive self-service dashboard, multiple pay options, document storage, single sign-on and access to important tax documents. If you have international workers, you can access TriNet’s global partners (G-P, Oyster and Multiplier) for international talent management.
TriNet also offers time and attendance software through a third-party provider, so you don’t have to worry about tracking your employees’ hours or monitoring their schedules manually.
Another advantage of using TriNet is the increased pay accuracy. TriNet highlights essential changes in payroll, including new hires, pay rate adjustments, departures, additional pay, missing I-9s and general deductions.
TriNet customers are paired with TriNet representatives who are experts in their industries and focus areas, so they can help you with risk management and compliance measures that are unique to your business. The TriNet team includes experts in payroll and benefits compliance, ACA compliance, COBRA compliance, employment practices risk management (claims prevention and mitigation), workplace risk management and workers’ compensation.
We appreciated that TriNet builds certain compliance guardrails right into the platform, so you can’t take actions that violate compliance laws. For example, when we tried to set compensation for a new hire below the minimum wage for our zip code, TriNet’s platform flagged the error and prevented us from moving forward until we entered an amount that met local regulations. This includes compliance with global regulations, making TriNet a great option for international companies or SMBs that hope to expand globally.
TriNet can also help you manage multiple unemployment insurance claims or administer unemployment benefits. The company allows you to set user permissions that help to ensure business security and compliance.
TriNet offers multiple training and development solutions to help with talent retention through their integration with 360Learning. The company’s online learning management system gives employees the opportunity to enroll in more than 1,000 interactive courses that are accessible from any web-based platform.
The courses are optimized for targeted training and give team members a way to learn new skills, progress toward professional certifications and improve performance in the workplace. The platform includes over 50 complimentary HR compliance courses, as well as the ability to create your own. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time and effort either. Simply upload a document and TriNet’s AI tools will build a course for you.
Businesses can use TriNet to manage employee performance. Source: TriNet
TriNet’s stellar customer support extends to its performance management capabilities as well. Businesses work with expert consultants to build out comprehensive performance processes that are unique to their organizational needs. You set goals, gain real-time feedback and access custom or pre-built review templates to easily create the right performance review for each situation. Performance reports with actionable metrics are available as well.
Unfortunately, TriNet does not publicly list its pricing. Its PEO features are bundled and charged per employee per month, but your exact plan and pricing will depend on your specific business. Contact the vendor directly for a quote.
TriNet requires customers to have a minimum of five employees for its HR outsourcing services. This employee minimum is relatively standard in the PEO industry. The company also offers add-on features, like contractor and global talent management.
TriNet does not require long-term contracts. You can pay on an ongoing basis and cancel at any time with at least 30 days’ notice. However, depending on your agreement, cancellation fees may apply.
Implementing TriNet into your business’s workflow takes only about two weeks, on average, which we found quick and efficient compared to many other providers we reviewed. Thanks to the custom support TriNet offers, you’ll start by connecting with a company representative to establish an HR outsourcing plan that meets your specific needs.
By working closely with this account representative, you’ll get all of your services up and running and configured to your team’s workflow. One of the best parts of using TriNet’s intuitive platform is that small businesses won’t typically be overburdened when getting their team up to speed. In our testing, we found the platform easy to navigate, and updating our personal information was straightforward.
TriNet’s platform integrates all of your HR needs into one easily accessible online portal. Everyone on your staff can easily make changes to their plan and view their plan information as needed. Because your whole staff will use the service, ease of use is vital in a PEO — and TriNet delivers on that. The vendor also provides convenient iOS and Android apps, which are common across the industry.
TriNet integrates with several third-party applications, and we appreciate that it offers an API for additional custom integrations. This is a valuable capability, especially for businesses that want to streamline their HR processes by connecting different software.
When testing TriNet, we found the customer support unrivaled. One big reason for this is the company’s HR support solution, Connect 360, which gives administrators and managers quick and accurate answers to HR questions. Chat through Connect 360 is available 24/7. Administrators also get direct email access to their assigned relationship manager, so they can reach out with account-specific questions.
TriNet also offers employee support via 24/7 live web chat and phone support Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST. You can also reach a representative by email or an online contact form. A TriNet representative told us the average phone wait time was 13 seconds, with a 94% resolution rate on all requests.
TriNet representatives specialize in a variety of topics, including payroll, employee benefits, compliance, HR policies, employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition and compensation. TriNet also provides industry-specific support, so you can rest assured you’re getting your questions answered by a true expert.
To learn more about TriNet’s services or HR-related topics on your own, you can access the vendor’s wealth of online resources, including articles, blogs, e-guides, whitepapers, checklists, templates, research reports, videos, demos and webinars.
If customer support is of utmost importance to you, you might also consider Insperity as a PEO. This competitor also offers knowledgeable support representatives, although the service may not be tailored to your industry. Read our Insperity PEO review to learn more.
One potential drawback is TriNet’s pricing structure. Although you’ll find flexibility in both the cost and contract length, TriNet bundles some of its HR features, including payroll processing, employee benefits administration, risk mitigation, HR services and the technology platform. Although these are essential HR tools, you may want to handle some of them in-house, which means you’d be stuck paying for services you don’t need through TriNet. If you are looking for a PEO with several add-on options, check out our review of ADP TotalSource. You also may want to read our TriNet vs. ADP comparison.
Another disadvantage is that TriNet requires a minimum of five employees (although a TriNet representative told us that the company may work with clients with as few as three or four employees). Employee minimums are standard for PEOs and only a minor caveat, but it could take TriNet out of the running if you have a very small business. If you are looking for a PEO service for fewer than five workers, consider our review of Justworks, which has a two-worker minimum. For a deeper dive into these two PEOs, check out our TriNet vs. Justworks comparison.
We researched and analyzed dozens of PEO and HRO providers to identify the best services on the market. We looked at pricing, contract requirements, bundled versus a la carte features, minimum requirements, employee benefits administration, time-tracking tools, payroll processing and taxes, administrative HR functions, talent management features, integrations, legal risk and compliance assistance, accreditations and customer support. We also watched product videos, conducted demos and took advantage of free trials when possible. When looking for the best PEO and HRO solutions with expert customer service specifically, we prioritized flexibility, industry-specific features, UI and customer support availability.
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