Shared Liability in Cannabis: A Smarter Approach to Managing Employee Compliance with Paylient

3.9 min readPublished On: October 28th, 2024By

LOS ANGELES — As the cannabis industry continues to grow, so do the challenges that come with managing employees within a highly regulated environment. From payroll and benefits to labor compliance and HR management, cannabis business owners face a web of responsibilities that, if mismanaged, can lead to significant legal and financial consequences.

Enter Paylient, a comprehensive Professional Employer Organization (PEO) partner offering a shared liability model that helps businesses navigate these complexities while safeguarding their operations. Here’s why shared liability is a game-changer for cannabis businesses and how Paylient can help streamline HR, allowing you to focus on growth.

What is Shared Liability and Why Does it Matter in Cannabis?

In a shared liability model, both the cannabis business and the PEO, like Paylient, share employment responsibilities. Paylient steps in as the employer of record for tax and legal purposes, assuming much of the administrative burden related to payroll, tax compliance, workers’ compensation, and more. At the same time, the business retains control over day-to-day operations, managing employee activities and key decisions.

Why is this important? This model not only reduces risk but also enhances compliance with cannabis-specific employment laws, freeing up business owners to focus on strategy rather than constantly managing HR complexities.

Paylient’s Role: A Comprehensive HR Solution for Cannabis Businesses

Cannabis businesses face unique regulatory hurdles, and Paylient’s shared liability model offers tailored solutions that simplify the management of your workforce. Here’s how Paylient supports cannabis business owners throughout the entire employee lifecycle:

  • Onboarding & Offboarding: Seamless hiring processes and managed employee exits.
  • Risk & Safety: Proactive safety programs, Workers’ Compensation management, and OSHA compliance to help protect your workforce.
  • Payroll: Accurate and timely payroll processing.
  • HR & Employee Relations: Ongoing support for conflict resolution and HR best practices.
  • Compliance: Ensures adherence to all local, state, and federal employment laws.
  • 401k & Benefits: Comprehensive benefits administration, including retirement plans.

How Shared Liability Works in Cannabis

Through a co-employment arrangement, Paylient shares liability and legal responsibility with your cannabis business. This creates a partnership where Paylient handles critical HR functions—such as payroll, benefits administration, and regulatory compliance—while you maintain operational control of your workforce.

Here’s why the co-employment model is particularly beneficial for cannabis businesses:

  • Administrative Relief: Paylient manages payroll, taxes, and benefits, reducing the administrative load and allowing you to focus on day-to-day operations.
  • Risk Management: By sharing liability, Paylient helps minimize your exposure to legal issues, providing expert management of compliance and HR risks.
  • Scalability: As your cannabis business grows or adjusts staffing needs, Paylient’s flexible services scale to meet your evolving requirements.

This approach ensures that your business is protected against costly mistakes, such as non-compliance with labor laws, while allowing you to concentrate on scaling your operations.

Why Paylient Stands Out

Unlike traditional HR outsourcing, which leaves all employer responsibility with the client, Paylient’s co-employment model assumes liability for certain employment functions. This means Paylient is just as invested in your success as you are, with skin in the game to help you avoid legal pitfalls and maintain a compliant workforce.

Key differentiators of Paylient include:

  • Efficiency: By streamlining all HR and payroll tasks into one system, Paylient reduces administrative overhead and enhances operational efficiency.
  • Expert Management: Paylient ensures compliance with cannabis industry-specific regulations, helping you stay on the right side of the law while handling employee management with confidence.
  • Scalability: As your business grows, Paylient adapts, providing the flexibility needed to manage an expanding workforce.

The Benefits of Co-Employment for Cannabis Businesses

For cannabis businesses, shared liability offers peace of mind. Paylient assumes many of the risks associated with employee management, including legal compliance and payroll, while you retain control over your company’s strategic direction.

By partnering with Paylient, you not only reduce exposure to HR-related liabilities but also streamline operations, allowing you to focus on what matters most—growing your cannabis business.

Unwavering Support, Every Step of the Way

At Paylient, our commitment goes beyond providing an HR solution—it’s about building a partnership that supports your business from day one. With dedicated experts guiding you through every step of the employee lifecycle, Paylient ensures you get the most from our services, providing expert support that adapts as your cannabis business evolves.

 


Ready to take control of your HR and employee compliance? Paylient is here to help your cannabis business stay compliant, reduce risk, and focus on growth. For more insights into managing cannabis business compliance, download our latest ebook, Inside Cannabis with Daniela Williams: Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Employee Non-Compliance, and learn how Paylient can safeguard your business.

 

About the Author: HCN News Team

The News Team at Highly Capitalized are some of the most experienced writers in cannabis and psychedelics business & finance. We cover capital markets, finance, branding, marketing and everything important in between. Most of all, we follow the money.

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