Justworks is aimed at small companies that don’t want to run HR in house. The platform handles payroll, tax filings, benefits enrollment, time off, onboarding, and compliance in a single system, with a mobile app for employees. Its HR support team helps with questions about employment rules.
The distinct feature is the co-employment model. Justworks operates as a professional employer organization, which means it becomes a co-employer for tax and insurance purposes, pooling its customers to buy group health insurance and workers compensation at rates a small firm could not get alone. The business keeps day-to-day control over its staff and hiring.
Justworks charges per employee, with plans by features, and there are rules about where and how a PEO can operate. Switching from a PEO to another setup later involves transition work. Alternatives include Gusto, Rippling, TriNet, Insperity, and Paychex. Justworks suits startups and small businesses that want benefits and compliance handled for them.