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TriNet Review

Cons:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Wide range of insurance options
  • Comprehensive payroll and tax services

Cons:

  • Weak integration
  • Inconsistent customer support

Average Rating: 5

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Are you drowning in employee paperwork? Is your payroll giving you a headache?

Your problem has a solution, and it’s called PEO.

What does PEO stand for?

A Professional Employer Organization is an external resource company that provides services to small and midsize businesses. PEO services consist of HR consulting, payroll processing, health benefits, workers’ compensations, and employment recruiting.

One such company is TriNet.

In this TriNet review, I’ll discuss its services and features, including plans and pricing, benefits and disadvantages, and lots more. I’ll also go over TriNet PEO reviews by users (only legit reviews) and include a sample of TriNet negative reviews to give you a better idea of what you can expect.

Keep reading to learn more.

TriNet Bio and History

TriNet (TriNet Group) is a web-based professional employer organization with head offices in Dublin, California, and the US.

It offers the following services:

  • HR strategy and regulatory compliance
  • Benefits administration
  • Payroll administration
  • Health benefits management
  • Counseling on employment law compliance/concession and more

The man behind TriNet Group is Martin Babinec. He started the company back in 1988 in San Leandro, California, USA. Over the years, Mr. Babinec led TriNet through various acquisitions of smaller PEOs, such as:

  • HR Logic Holdings
  • John Parry & Alexander
  • Outsource Group
  • E3 Group

Martin Babinec isn’t the CEO of TriNet anymore. Burton M. Goldfield is the one currently in charge of the company.

Awards and Recognitions

As a company that’s been in business for more than 30 years, TriNet has had a fair share of awards and recognitions. Let’s check out just a few of them:

  • In the 90s, TriNet was a member of the Inc. 500 Hall of Fame for five consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US. Its ranking ranged from No. 12 to No. 381 between 1995 and 1999.
  • In 2015, TriNet was among the Top 50 B2B vendors in the US, according to the company’s customers.
  • In the same year, TriNet was named one of the Bay Area’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources.

Alongside the long list of awards, the IRS designated TriNet as a Certified Professional Employer Organization. What’s more, TriNet received accreditation from the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC).

Plans and Pricing

As mentioned earlier, TriNet is an end-to-end company that deals with HR concerns. This includes services such as employee processes, unemployment management, and retirement plans.

In essence, TriNet acts as a trustworthy remote HR department for small and medium businesses. It handles responsibilities that will otherwise bury you in tons of paperwork and consume a lot of your time.

Unfortunately, there’s no official price list on their website. Instead, you can request a personalized quote. This is what the quote form looks like:

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These are the criteria they take into account when customizing the price plan for your business:

  • Company location
  • Employee location
  • State tax demands
  • Employer contribution to employee benefits

In accordance with the PEO design, your business needs to have a minimum option of a 70% contribution to health and retirement benefits.

The monthly per-employee fee for TriNet’s services remains the same throughout your partnership with them, no matter the business’s size, making it easy to plan expenses.

If you go through some of TriNet’s online reviews, you might come across users who share the quotes they’ve received from the company. For instance, one verified TriNet review 2020 edition reports submitting a demo request for a business of 15 employees that operates in several states. They got a range of $180-250 per employee per month, plus a setup fee of $3,000.

Keep in mind that this price is customized for this particular request. Depending on the characteristics of your company and its operations, you may get a different estimate.

TriNet’s pricing page also includes a table explaining how they work out their rate and how it compares to competitors’ offers:

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TriNet specifies that this pricing model applies to new customers only and varies by its location, industry, size, and services.

Discounts

TriNet offers a range of valuable discounts for its customers.

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With a TriNet Group membership, you and your employees get access to perks and exclusive deals on all kinds of services, such as:

  • Car rentals
  • Flights
  • Hotels
  • Theme parks
  • Fitness classes
  • Movies theatres

You also have access to discounts on products and services from specific brands, including Hyatt, AT&T, BloomNation, and many more:

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These are just some places where you can get deals as a member of the TriNet Family. This may be especially valuable for small businesses that can’t afford to spend much on leisure for their employees.

You can also add your company to the marketplace free of charge and increase your brand awareness since thousands of potential buyers access the platform. All you need to do is create a short profile of your company and present your products and services to TriNet.

Check out a couple of marketplace customer stories:

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Extra Costs

There are a few additional costs you need to know about before choosing TriNet as your full-service PEO.

Let’s check them out:

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Why is this important?

It pays for the medical expenses, and covers lost salaries if an employee gets an injury on the job. TriNet partners with AP Intego to offer pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation insurance for a $5 monthly fee.

Premium TriNet solutions for this type of compensation depending on how many employees you have and what kind of business you are running.

Medical/Dental/Vision

If you decide to sign up for TriNet (or any other PEO for that matter), you must comply with a minimum contribution requirement towards employees’ health insurance. You need to contribute at least 70% of the lowest-priced benefits package.

Via TriNet, you’ll have access to the following third-party service providers, as well as a few others:

  • Kaiser Permanente
  • UnitedHealth Group
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield

Contract Duration and Cancellation Policy

The contract duration requirement is determined the same way as their pricing—it’s tailored to your business needs. Rather than asking for the same contract length for all businesses, TriNet offers flexible terms.

You can always submit a cancellation of your PEO plan with a 30-day written notice.

Features and Services

TriNet is a full-service HR management company that gives you access to premium benefits and professional assistance from a knowledgeable team of experts.

The company offers a truly impressive bundle of features and services in a single platform. We cover all of them in our TriNet’s PEO services and features reviews.

Essential HR Services

Tactical HR

The goal of this service is to increase your team’s efficiency through strategic HR management initiatives. These include compensation counseling—an in-depth analysis of your compensation plan showing you where you stand on the market.

With this solution, TriNet promises to:

  • Increase workers’ motivation, thereby improving performance
  • Cut back on turnover and time spent on hiring and training
  • Set standards for things like job roles, functions, and tasks

Talent Retention

Every business wants to keep its most skilled and well-trained employees.

To do that, it must continually invest in different programs aimed at increasing worker satisfaction. TriNet can help with that through its employee performance management tools.

Learning Management

To stay ahead of the curve in a competitive industry, you need to ensure your staff is continuously trained on your field’s latest practices and advancements.

TriNet can assist with your workers’ training and development courses. We’ll go into a bit more detail on the company’s learning management services later in this review.

Career Transition Support

It’s not very often that you hear of companies supporting their offboarding employees. Many employers probably see it as a pointless exercise.

But helping employees who are leaving your company protects your reputation. That’s why TriNet offers career transition support.

Here’s what your soon-to-be ex-employees can take advantage of:

  • Assistance in building a resume
  • Financial planning advice
  • A supportive offboarding process
  • Interactive coaching services

Employee Engagement

Sometimes employees hesitate to share work-related feedback for fear of being misunderstood. By increasing worker engagement, you ensure their voices are heard.

How do you achieve that?

One way is to create custom surveys about your company’s workplace conditions and workflow, which TriNet can help you with. This has proven to be an efficient method for establishing a healthy dialogue with your staff.

Team Building

Do you know how companies pick a day to take their workers out of town and engage in fun activities that cultivate a team spirit?

TriNet takes this a step further with a special tool called the Team Accelerator. It identifies great teams and concentrates on their development. To achieve this, TriNet relies on a program that analyzes the following information:

  • Employee demographic data and employment history
  • Job profiles and administration
  • Workflow for transfers, promotions, pay raises, etc.
  • Benefits information
  • Organizational charting
  • Organization and location management

Compliance data (COBRA—a continuation of health coverage, OSHA—Occupational Safety and Health Administration, etc.)

Risk Mitigation

When running a business, it’s not just the bottom line you need to worry about. It’s also your responsibility to keep employees safe from harm. By doing so, you ensure that the company is protected. That’s why it’s essential to meet legal, regulatory requirements.

Payroll Compliance

You’re probably thinking of using TriNet’s services because you don’t want to deal with things like payroll compliance, and you want to focus on the expansion of your business.

Fair enough.

But TriNet goes a step further with some other valuable services. The company operates under the co-employment model, meaning that for tax purposes, TriNet officially employs your workers and can completely take charge of things like the payroll tax in full compliance with local employment tax laws.

TriNet also takes on:

  • W-2 preparation for your employees (electronic W-2s and TurboTax Integration)
  • Management of unemployment benefits, plans, payroll collection, and claims handling
  • Collection of federal, state, and local taxes for payroll administered via TriNet

EPLI Coverage

EPLI stands for Employment Practice Liability Insurance. This kind of insurance protects your business from lawsuits. It covers your company against worker claims of violation of their legal rights as employees.

TriNet can successfully manage such employee-related legal issues.

Benefits Compliance

Knowing that your company complies with employee benefits regulation gives you peace of mind. TriNet provides full benefits and retirement plans, as well as expert guidance throughout the process.

The company’s benefits compliance service consists of:

  • Managing health and retirement plans for you to minimize your risk
  • Compliance for 401(k) plans and filings
  • Management of COBRA administration for former employees included in the plan

ACA Compliance

Your workers and their families can choose whether to continue with the benefits provided by their group health plan or transfer to another.

TriNet takes care of:

  • Medical plans that cover all requirements
  • Strategies that meet all ACA requirements
  • Fillings, data tracking, and employee notices
  • Guidance and support from a team of experts

Employment Practices Risk Management

This service protects your business from claims related to:

  • Wrongful termination of an employee
  • Unlawful redress
  • Harassment lawsuits

Not only will TriNet assist you in situations like this, but it will also provide resources to help you prevent them.

This comprehensive program entitles you to the following services:

  • Claims prevention

This includes a full guide on practices and access to an online reference library to help you avoid workplace situations that cause employee claims.

  • Claims mitigation

TriNet will actively manage claims to help you control costs.

Workplace Risk Management Services

As an employer, you’re responsible for your workers’ safety while they’re on the job. TriNet can help you manage workplace risk.

A team of experts will assist your business to ensure compliance with industry standards and spot potentially hazardous situations. TriNet can recommend and implement changes in the workplace, as well as track and monitor results.

Workers’ Compensation

Despite the employer’s best efforts, workplace injuries sometimes do occur. But if you have TriNet’s full pack of services, you can rest assured that these matters will be handled professionally.

The workers’ compensation program includes:

  • Market-leading coverage
  • Pay-as-you-go model
  • No year-end inspection

These services can accelerate claims handling and prevent fraud. You can also take advantage of nurse advocacy services and access to physician networks, such as the Medical Provider Network in California.

As for workplace safety, TriNet assists you in several key areas, such as:

  • Workplace safety programs
  • Training management
  • Practice videos and templates
  • Back-to-work procedures

Benefit Options

TriNet’s comprehensive employee benefits plans include health and retirement coverage, as well as some extra perks, such as critical accident and illness policies, home policies, commuting benefits, and employee learning programs.

Premium Benefits Options

With its extensive know-how and experience, TriNet can provide access to premium-level benefits, including:

  • Health
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Retirement plans

401(k) Plan

This is a retirement plan that both workers and employers can contribute to. TriNet can work out the best plan for your organization.

Payroll Services

TriNet handles your company’s payroll so that you don’t have to.

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Let’s check out some of the main features of this service:

Cost Management

TriNet’s mobile expense app has an auto-import function that allows you to easily collect all your expenses from bank accounts, credit card statements, etc.

Here’s what else this app lets you do:

  • Аpprove and reimburse your employees
  • Take photos of receipts
  • Edit expenses (imported from a credit card)
  • Create expense categories

Time and Attendance

The app also gives you control over schedules and other time-related issues. Through the Visual Scheduler function, you can generate a work schedule by day/week/month and add breaks as needed.

Intuitive Dashboard

Thie dashboard lets you view key metrics and monitor real-time hours, making it easy for you to react promptly to anything that comes up. You also have access to reporting tools and in-depth payroll analysis.

Integrated Platform

All the HR systems you need are synchronized and in compliance with rules and regulations, giving you more time to focus on developing your business.

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Employee Training

TriNet has a comprehensive learning management system that consists of a library with learning materials on finance, business writing, workplace ethics, computer literacy, and much more.

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This allows your employees to continually upgrade their professional knowledge and remain competitive in a changing business environment.

Let’s go into a bit more detail on TriNet’s employee training services.

Performance Management

TriNet lets you focus on your company’s people and allow them to grow and become proficient at what they do.

The company offers various performance tools, such as a real-time tracker that lets you monitor your employees’ progress and achievements.

Learning Management

As noted earlier, TriNet offers tools to make it easier for you to keep your employees trained and up to date with the latest developments in your industry. You can choose from 500+ different learning target courses.

TriNet offers online learning anywhere, anytime—you and your employees have access to a platform with many employee learning programs. All courses are designed with established professional certifications in mind.

Leadership Training Course

This course aims to encourage leadership that aligns with the company’s objectives and expectations.

It includes HR 101, which covers best practices in HR, like performance coaching, employee evaluation, termination procedures, and more.

HR Software

Having access to advanced technology is crucial in today’s business environment, no matter the industry.

TriNet has a platform that allows both you and your employees to manage and keep track of HR-related documents.

Employees can view and make changes to:

  • Pay stubs
  • W-4s
  • Benefits
  • Deposits
  • Time-off requests

Managers can:

  • Customize dashboards
  • Make administrative changes (such as payroll adjustments)
  • Access the company organization chart

Integration Center

With the TriNet Integration Center, you can take advantage of their pre-built integrations with widely used apps, as well as utilize APIs to build upon TriNet’s platform.

Workforce Analytics

TriNet workforce analytics HR software allows you to generate in-depth reports on all sorts of data with a few clicks. This helps you stay on top of important changes and make more informed decisions.

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TriNet Mobile Application

TriNet also has an HR management application, which can save you a lot of time. There’s both an iOS and Android version. It has a fully supported and easy-to-use dashboard that provides synchronous access.

Here’s a list of what you can view and manage through the mobile app:

  • Earnings
  • Direct deposits
  • Next salary day
  • Payment history
  • Breakdown of taxes
  • Comparison of paychecks
  • W-2s and W-4s
  • Pay Stubs
  • Benefits
  • Telehealth accounts (for you and your covered family members)
  • Vacation days
  • Company holidays
  • Discounts

The app also gives you access to amazing deals on the TriNet Marketplace.

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Help and Support

There are multiple ways of getting in touch with TriNet’s support team.

Phone

If you have any questions or requests, you can contact TriNet at 800-638-0461.

There’s also a phone number specifically for sales inquiries:

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Email

Clients can always contact TriNet at [email protected].

Live Chat

You might have already seen the chat windows popping up on TriNet’s website, ready to answer your queries at any time.

Help Center

Another way of getting assistance is through TriNet’s Help Center. It gives you access to a knowledge database with:

  • Articles
  • Blogs
  • eGuides and whitepapers
  • Videos and demos
  • Webinars

Social Media

TriNet official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, and Youtube are at your service at all times.

FAQ

There’s a section dedicated to the most frequently asked questions by customers.

Customer Service Performance

TriNet’s customer service department is more specialized than what we usually see. The company has representatives for each of the industries they serve:

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This is a great feature because it gives you a chance to consult an expert knowledgeable in your field.

One TriNet customer review we came across gives an account of the customer’s experience with TriNet’s support team. The user shares that the rep wasn’t trying to push sales but was helpful and attentive to questions.

User Reviews and Testimonials

TriNet is an established PEO with many years of experience. It’s an excellent choice for those who need reliable HR consulting.

But to make sure this service is right for you, take a look at our collection of TriNet customer reviews. After all, it’s the clients who have the last word.

First, let’s go over what customers like and dislike about TriNet.

Pros

  • Useful HR dashboard
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • TriNet mobile apps (available for Android and iOS)
  • Wide range of insurance options
  • Visibility of important employee info (health insurance, upcoming paydays, etc.)
  • Skilled customer service support
  • Easy setup and administration
  • Ability to manage businesses working in several states
  • Comprehensive payroll and tax services
  • A cost calculator to help you make informed decisions
  • Paperless system
  • Advanced employee management
  • Full benefits package
  • Custom plans and pricing

Now let’s take a look at a few testimonials by TriNet customers:

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That’s just a small sample of the many positive reviews of TriNet. Users often praise the efficiency and responsiveness of the company.

Cons

  • Inconsistent customer support
  • Nontransparent pricing and fees
  • Weak integration
  • Mediocre security
  • Unintuitive reports
  • Constant website changes (doesn’t sit well with existing customers)

Here are a few specific TriNet complaints, negative customer reviews, and user recommendations:

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Certifications and Accreditations

To establish the credibility of a company, it’s useful to review its certifications and accreditations. TriNet has all the licenses and acknowledgments you’d expect from an established PEO.

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ESAC—Employer Services Assurance Corporation

ESAC accreditation is the accepted standard for PEO best practices. When a PEO is accredited by ESAC, you can expect that they are financially stable, committed to ethical work practices, and compliant with regulatory requirements.

ESAC doesn’t just establish a company’s adherence to its standards once but keeps monitoring its practices to ensure continuous compliance. So a company can also lose its endorsement if it doesn’t live up to standards.

Interestingly, only 5% of PEOs are accredited by the organization.

TriNet and ESAC go way back—TriNet has been recognized by ESAC since 1995.

CPEO—Certified Professional Employer Organization

In 2018, TriNet became a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO)—a designation of the IRS.

What does that mean?

CPEO is a federal certification program managed by the IRS, which establishes that a PEO has a proven history of federal, state, and local tax compliance. A CPEO-certified company can also be expected to operate with integrity and to be financially responsible.

TriNet Alternatives

It’s always good to have alternatives, especially when it comes to service providers. There are quite a few TriNet competitors. Here are some of the names that stand out:

Let’s compare TriNet to two of the main PEO alternatives on the market.

TriNet vs. Paychex

Just like TriNet, Paychex has a solid reputation in the PEO market. The company provides counseling and HR services to organizations and has 12,000 employees of its own.

Paychex’s services are easy to use and provide a lot of options for customization. Compared to TriNet, Paychex’s pricing is easier to understand and more transparent.

Similarities between the two companies include their teams of experts versed in several industries, their easy-to-use management system, and their suitability for small and medium-sized businesses.

Some Paychex reviews say the company is not always up to date with the latest trends and practices in the PEO field. Paychex is also a bit pricier than most of its competitors, including TriNet.

Also, If you own a small business TriNet is probably a smarter choice for you because of its wider variety of customization options.

TriNet vs. ADP TotalSource

Here again, we have two reputable names with a history of successfully serving small and mid-size businesses. Both companies are up to date with the latest trends in HR, as well as tech developments in the field.

ADP TotalSource serves over 700,000 businesses across 113+ countries. Unlike TriNet, ADP also provides support to large organizations.

ADP’s offering includes payroll management systems, a wide range of safety and risk management programs, as well as in-place training. The company also has excellent customer service support, according to customer reviews.

To start working with ADP TotalSource, you need to adhere to their minimum salary requirement. TriNet doesn’t have such a prerequisite.

Although ADP TotalSource offers a user dashboard and a comprehensive management system, users report experiencing bugs from time to time. The platform provides many options and features, but it may be too complicated for someone who’s never had to deal with an HR cloud-based system before.

Both companies are capable of addressing a broad spectrum of business needs. In the end, the choice between the two providers comes down to the specifics of your company.

Summary

The HR department is crucial to the smooth operations of a business. That’s why when looking for an HR service provider. It’s essential to pick one that ensures stability, efficiency, and protection.

As a well-established PTO, TriNet is in a good position to provide comprehensive HR management services. It has your back regarding payroll, taxes, employee learning programs, and much more. It also offers a wide range of health insurance and retirement plans and customer representatives, specialized in different industries.

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If you want to focus on developing your business rather than paperwork, TriNet may be right for you. TriNet will offer you a custom plan and pricing depending on things such as the number of your employees and the states you operate in.

The company is compliant with ESAC and CPEO standards, so you can rest assured that all your HR needs are addressed responsibly.

FAQ

  1. What is outsourcing human resources?

Human resources outsourcing means hiring a PEO company to help manage certain tasks like:

  • Administration of benefits
  • Payroll services and strategic HR
  • Talent retention
  • HR-compliance training
  • Risk mitigation

2. What payroll services does TriNet offer?

TriNet’s payroll services include payroll processing, plus e-pay stubs and electronic W-2 preparation and delivery. The self-service platform also enables you to track paid time off.

3. What is TriNet’s pricing structure?

TriNet’s pricing is based on a flat fee per employee per month (PEPM). Prices can vary by region, industry, company size, and range of services.