Case Study

Managing People Operations

The owner of this growing business knew that she needed expanded services to help her manage people operations and people advisory. They were seeking a one-stop shop to help handle payroll operations & deductions, benefits management, HR paperwork, retirement account funding, and regulatory alerts. They engaged GrowthLab to assist with People Advisory Services (PAS) to give them the peace of mind that they were leveraging best practices and creating a beautiful employee experience.

Challenge

Fragmented People Operations and Growing Risk

Industry

Military Veteran Talent Acquisition

Services

• Payroll & Benefits Management
  HR Operations & Compliance
  Employee Experience Strategy

Fragmented People Operations and Growing Risk

As the business grew, people operations became increasingly fragmented. Payroll, benefits administration, onboarding and offboarding, compliance notices, and HR documentation were spread across multiple systems and providers. While lower-cost solutions had been used previously, the owner lacked visibility into how services were delivered and who was accountable.

At the same time, the company was navigating a difficult period that included layoffs, making it even more important to support remaining employees with competitive benefits, clear communication, and compliant policies. The owner needed a trusted partner to bring structure, consistency, and best practices to people operations.

Building a Professional, Scalable People Operations Function

GrowthLab partnered closely with the owner to fully assume responsibility for people operations, allowing leadership to focus on the business while knowing employees were supported. Our team worked to:



• Transition the company to Gusto as a new payroll platform
• Manage payroll operations and deductions with improved reporting visibility
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding processes
• Oversee retirement account funding and benefits administration
• Triage and manage compliance notices and regulatory alerts
• Review benefits and PTO policies to ensure compliance and employee value

Rather than acting as a transactional provider, GrowthLab became an extension of the leadership team—bringing proactive guidance, reliable communication, and operational rigor.

From Outsourced Tasks to Trusted Partnership

Although GrowthLab’s PAS carried a higher price point than prior providers, the value was clear. The owner gained direct access and transparency into payroll, HR, and benefits systems—eliminating uncertainty and surprises.

The upfront, transparent billing model made costs easy to understand, while the quality and personalization of service justified the investment. With a dedicated People Advisor, the owner had consistent support for both routine operations and sensitive employee matters.

Stronger Employee Experience and Leadership Peace of Mind

Through the partnership, the company experienced:

• A smoother payroll transition with no employee disruption
  
• Improved confidence in compliance and regulatory oversigh

• Benefits and PTO policies aligned with employee priorities
  
• Reduced operational burden on leadership
  
• A stronger sense of trust and anticipation in advisor conversations

Most importantly, the owner felt supported knowing there was a knowledgeable team backing people-related decisions during a challenging phase of growth.

Advice for Other Business Leaders

If people operations feel reactive or overwhelming, it’s a sign you need more than tools—you need partnership.

Look for:

• Visibility into payroll, HR, and benefits systems
  
• A team that proactively manages compliance
  
• Advisors who understand both operations and employee experience
  
• Support that grows with your business
  

Final Thoughts

GrowthLab’s People Advisory Services helped transform people operations from a source of stress into a structured, dependable function. With a trusted partner managing the details, this growing business was able to focus on culture, leadership, and long-term success—knowing employees were supported every step of the way.