Featured Articles

Summer heat does not wait for paperwork. When temperatures surge past triple digits across the South and Midwest, heat safety is compromised. Your crew on the asphalt or inside an unconditioned warehouse faces real danger within minutes. OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program for heat hazards to sharpen its enforcement focus. They added 22 industries […]

Sept. 30, 2026. Norman, OK — Nextep, a leading professional employer organization (PEO), has been selected for the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services™ List by Great Place to Work® and Fortune magazine. This is Nextep’s 7th consecutive year on this prestigious list. The Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services™ award […]

Mark your calendars! New compliance rules take effect this October, and protecting your business starts with knowing what is changing. The latest updates bring major changes to state and federal employment laws, changing everything from workplace policies to payroll. Key changes include the federal repeal of OFCCP affirmative action mandates and Alabama’s ban on sexual […]

NORMAN, Okla. (September 15, 2026) — The University of Oklahoma Athletics and Learfield’s Sooner Sports Properties announced today a new, multi-year partnership with OU and Nextep that will see the Oklahoma-based company’s branding featured on-court at Lloyd Noble Center.  Nextep’s logo will be prominently displayed on the playing surface at Lloyd Noble Center during all […]

States are enacting new workplace artificial intelligence laws that focus on transparency and worker privacy. If your business uses software to score applicants or screen current employees, state laws now demand clear notices and strict record-keeping. Connecticut will require a disclosure starting in October when AI informs major employment decisions. Colorado mandates notices for job […]

As a small business owner, securing a competitive benefits package that matches Fortune 500-level benefits can feel impossible. We’re here to show you that it’s not. Nextep can secure the top-tier benefits you’re looking for while saving you time and money. Partnering with a PEO as a small business So, what’s a PEO? A professional […]

When shopping for the right PEO for your business, you’ll naturally look for a few checkpoints, such as technology, employee benefit options, and customer service. But perhaps the biggest point you’ll need assurance on is their trustworthiness. That’s where ESAC accreditation comes in. The Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC) is one of the Professional Employer […]

It can be tricky to determine whether to classify your employees as exempt vs nonexempt. Good thing we’re here to help.  Exempt vs. Nonexempt: Exempt means that an employee doesn’t receive overtime pay regardless of hours worked. Nonexempt means that an employee must receive overtime pay (typically at a rate of time and a half) […]

July brings a fresh wave of state and federal compliance updates. Nextep has the complete rundown to keep your business on track. Get started using these quick links: Part 1: Federal Compliance Spotlight: New EEOC National Enforcement Plan On June 4, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to replace its previous Strategic Enforcement […]

Handing off your human resources tasks to a Professional Employer Organization changes how you run your business. You get access to premium benefits, automated payroll, and expert HR guidance. But you probably want to know how the relationship actually works day to day. Partnering with a PEO gives your people better health benefits than you […]

NORMAN, Okla. – March 26, 2026 – Nextep, a nationally recognized leader in the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) space, is thrilled to announce its latest strategic expansion into four new U.S. markets: Scottsdale, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, and Greenville, South Carolina. These moves represent a significant step in the company’s growth strategy as it continues to […]

When a week of snow plows across the United States, it leaves a few important questions. Is travel to the workplace safe? Who absolutely needs to be there? And which employees will get paid? How do I prepare for inclement weather days? Having an inclement-weather policy answers all the questions above in advance for you […]