HR Companies & HR Consultants in Southfield, MI

CoStaff Services, LLC is a professional employer organization and HR outsourcing provider based in Southfield, Michigan. Its core audience is small and midsize employers in the state that want expert help with workforce administration but do not wish to build a full HR department of their own. Companies can work with the firm under a PEO arrangement or an HRO arrangement, depending on how much responsibility they prefer to pass along.

A people-centered approach

The company positions itself as the opposite of a software-only or chatbot-driven service. Every client is paired with a team that it comes to know by name: an HR business partner, an HR generalist, a payroll specialist, a benefits consultant, and a safety and risk consultant. CoStaff notes that its professionals hold advanced degrees.

The firm also points out that it was once a small business itself, and it says that experience guides the way it designs services, aiming to offer what it would expect from an HR partner.

What the firm handles

• Payroll and tax: check and direct deposit processing, pay cards, garnishments and child support, federal, state, local and multi-state tax administration, W-2 filing, job cost reports, general ledger exports, and tracking of paid time off. Clients choose their own pay frequency, from weekly to monthly.
• Onboarding: new hires finish their paperwork electronically, and employers complete I-9 documentation using an encrypted PIN. Custom forms can be added.
• Time and attendance: entry by web, PIN, swipe card, proximity badge, biometric device, cell phone or landline, along with a manager portal for scheduling, alerts and Affordable Care Act reporting.
• HR support: handbook and policy upkeep, discipline through termination, unemployment administration and hearings, manager and employee training, and consulting on ACA, FMLA, ADA, EEO and FLSA rules.
• Risk and compliance: consultation intended to reduce exposure and help clients keep pace with changing labor regulations.

Benefits administration

CoStaff uses its volume purchasing power with national insurers to give smaller employers access to plans comparable to those of large corporations. Medical options span PPO, HMO, POS, HSA and HRA designs, and the firm also arranges dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k) and flexible spending accounts.

Its consultants benchmark plans, analyze carrier costs, provide quoting tools, run open enrollment and new hire meetings, assist with claims, reconcile billing, review contracts and negotiate renewals. They also help with COBRA, HIPAA guidance and ACA affordability questions.

Optional ancillary offerings, available without extra administrative fees, include critical illness and accident coverage, legal services, identity theft protection, round-the-clock telemedicine, pet insurance, holiday savings accounts and employee discounts. Employees can enroll online and reach a call center for coverage questions.

Technology and records

Payroll and employee information run on PrismHR, a cloud-based system. Staff can view pay stubs and W-2s online, request time off, and obtain income verification whenever they need it. Managers have access to hundreds of standard reports as well as a custom report tool that exports to Excel. Documents live in a secure company intranet area, and data is backed up on CoStaff servers in several locations, both within and outside the region.

Transparent billing

Billing is one of the features the firm emphasizes most. It charges one flat administration fee for each paycheck rather than a share of payroll, so raises and overtime do not push the fee upward. Invoices break out FICA, FUTA, SUTA, workers' compensation and administrative charges individually, and payroll reports tie back to the invoice.

CoStaff says it returns the Section 125 credit to clients, a credit it claims other PEOs often keep. It also calculates workers' compensation on the straight hourly rate times hours worked, as carriers do, rather than on the overtime premium, which it presents as a source of meaningful savings.

Based in Southfield, Michigan, First Class Consulting Firm, LLC operates as a professional employer organization (PEO) and HR consultancy for employers that would rather hand off the administrative side of managing people. The company identifies itself as a certified minority business enterprise (M.B.E.) and says its team has over 15 years in human resources.

In addition to its Greenfield Road office in Southfield, it lists locations in Farmington Hills and Detroit, as well as Orlando, Florida, and Scottsdale, Arizona. It works with organizations in Michigan and other states across a range of industries.

Who the firm works with

The consulting practice is aimed at businesses where HR tasks are not being handled well or quickly enough. It also serves companies where a single staff member juggles several HR functions and owners who feel weighed down by compliance demands. It targets companies seeking ongoing improvement and those hoping to give their workforce better options.

The firm's case to these clients is that outside specialists let leaders concentrate on growth while keeping them current with shifting employment rules and helping them avoid penalties. It names workers' compensation, health insurance, talent acquisition and general HR as the four areas where it aims to cut client costs.

PEO, ASO and payroll

Under its PEO arrangement, the firm covers workers' compensation, 401(k) plans, employee benefits, ACA reporting, HR administration, risk management, performance management and training. Its team lists specialties in labor law, employee relations, collective bargaining agreements, safety and compliance. Prospective clients can also explore administrative services (ASO) and HR outsourcing (HRO) models through an intake form.

On the payroll side, the firm runs an online platform that handles:

• Tax deposits and filings
• Paychecks and direct deposit
• Garnishments and PTO tracking
• New hire reporting
• Year-end W-2 and 1099 preparation
• 401(k) reports and custom reporting

Employers get secure remote access with payroll approval and data import. Workers use a mobile-friendly portal for pay stubs, tax withholdings, benefit elections, timesheets and time-off requests. The broader HR system adds onboarding and offboarding tools, an applicant tracking system, a benefit enrollment center and an online training center.

HR consulting services

For employers who want advisory or project-based help rather than a full PEO relationship, the consulting team offers a broad menu of services, including:

• Employee handbooks and policy reviews
• HR audits, compliance reviews and Form I-9 audits
• Workplace and employment investigations
• Performance management and disciplinary guidance
• Job analysis, job descriptions and compensation strategy
• Onboarding, training and organizational development
• Safety programs and workers' compensation claims guidance
• Recruiting, retention strategies and exit interview programs

Staffing and recruitment

The firm also offers a recruitment model it presents as an alternative to traditional agencies. It promises unlimited recruiting without mark-up fees on direct hire or temporary roles. Before presenting a candidate, its staff handle sourcing, screening, interviews, skills testing, drug testing and background checks. A client that is unhappy with a placement can ask for a replacement during the first four hours on the job at no extra cost.

Roles it fills include:

• Administrative and executive assistants
• Receptionists and customer service staff
• Office managers and medical data entry staff
• IT, accounting, marketing and sales positions
• Human resources and project coordination roles
• General labor

Placed staff are offered medical, dental and vision coverage, paid holidays and time off, and referral bonuses. For buyers comparing providers, this means one Southfield-based partner can act as a PEO, run payroll, advise on specific HR issues and fill open positions.