Small Business Owners Spend at Least One Day a Week Managing People Paperwork, Study Finds

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Feb 20, 2019, 09:00 ET

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly one out of two (45%) small business owners spend roughly one day a week or more on administrative human resources (HR) issues, according to a study of nearly 300 U.S. businesses conducted by Oasis, A Paychex Company, a leading Professional Employer Organization and HR solutions firm. Further, 35% of owners and managers of businesses that have been in operation for 10 or fewer years spend six to 10 hours a week, and this goes up to 37% for businesses employing between 20 to 49 people.

The study also asked business owners what they dislike about managing people. The top two dislikes of managing people in small businesses are, "employees having personal issues that can conflict with work" (41%) and managers feeling "the quality of the work is not always up to par" (23%). "Personal issues" were a greater source of aggravation at companies employing 20 people or more (54%) and with revenues between $500,000 and $999,999 (51%). Only 7% of small business owners reported they did not have any "dislikes" about managing employees.

What do you dislike most about managing people?

41%	Employees have personal issues that sometimes conflict with work
23%	The quality of work is not always up to par
15%	It takes up a lot of my time
13%	It's easier for me to do the work myself
7%	Nothing, no dislikes
1%	Other

"Being in charge of a small business comes with a lot of paperwork that can be a distraction from the work that needs to get done in growing the business," said Dolores Calicchio, EVP/CHRO at Oasis. "Administering payroll, complying with local, state and federal regulations, and offering competitive compensation and benefits are specialized skills that require time and resources—assets that most owners find to be in short supply."

"As the survey results indicate, managing people involves complicated administration," Calicchio said. "Yet it's these very same assets—the people in the organization—that create unique customer experiences and an engaging culture where employees want to show up and do their best. Completing the necessary workforce-related administration is mandatory, but who manages it can be optional. This is where Oasis can step in as an outsourced HR administration partner for small businesses."

About the Study

This survey was conducted with 289 U.S. small business owners and managers who employ between 10 to 99 employees. Nearly all (93%) of the businesses were privately owned and 73% operated from one location. Most reported revenues in excess of $1 million (61%). A wide range of industries were represented. The online interviews took place between November 8 and 20, 2018, using a National Web Panel by SSRS, an independent market research company located in Glen Mills, PA.

Download a complimentary copy of the white paper by clicking here.

About Oasis

Oasis, A Paychex Company, is a Florida-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Founded in 1996, it specializes in providing human resources services, employee benefits administration, payroll and tax administration, risk management services and staffing solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States. Oasis is accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), ensuring the highest level of ethical, financial and operational standards in the PEO industry and has received SOC 1 Type II (formerly SAS 70) certification for its high level of accuracy and performance. Oasis, through its subsidiaries, is qualified to offer IRS-certified professional employer organization (CPEO) services.

Offices are located in Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boca Raton, FL; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Edison, NJ; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Manhattan, NY; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; New Haven, CT; Orlando, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Provo, UT; San Diego, CA; Sarasota, FL; St. Louis MO; Tampa, FL; Tucson, AZ; West Des Moines, IA and West Palm Beach, FL. For more information about Oasis Outsourcing, visit www.oasisadvantage.com.