PAGA claim (avg. settlement)
$1.23MPer LWDA data, 6x increase in filings since 2020
For CFOs & finance leaders
Know your true HR cost.
Most CFOs underestimate their HR liability exposure by 4-10x. Between PAGA penalties, wrongful termination risk, and hidden compliance gaps, the real cost of inadequate HR isn't on your P&L. Yet.
Exposure ledger
The liability exposure you can't ignore.
California employers face compounding penalties across multiple risk categories. Here's what's at stake for a typical 75-employee company.
Wrongful termination suit
$125K–$500KDefense costs alone average $75K regardless of outcome
Wage & hour class action
$500K–$2M+Meal/rest, overtime, misclassification — compounding per employee
Cal/OSHA serious violation
$25K–$156KPer violation, plus repeat/willful multipliers
Model comparison
Cost of HR: model comparison.
Annual cost for a 75-employee California company. Includes total compensation, overhead, and compliance coverage.
| HR model | Annual cost | What's included | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-House HR Director | $180K–$250K/yr | 1 person, limited bandwidth, plus benefits/overhead | High cost |
| Full HR Team (3–4 hires) | $400K–$600K/yr | Compliance, ER, benefits, training, payroll — proper coverage | High cost |
| PEO (co-employment) | $48K–$144K/yr | Bundled, but you lose vendor control + face co-employment liability | Mixed |
| Easeworks (fractional HR) Recommended | $36K–$96K/yr | Full HR leadership team, compliance, ER, strategy — no co-employment | Best fit |
Forensic tool
Calculate your PAGA exposure.
Use our forensic calculator to see your worst-case liability and how much a proactive cure strategy saves.
Open PAGA Exposure CalculatorFinance case
The CFO case for Easeworks.
Predictable monthly HR cost with no surprise fees
Quantified PAGA exposure reduction (typically 85%+ with proactive cure)
Eliminate co-employment liability risk (unlike PEO)
Full vendor control over benefits and payroll
Board-ready compliance reporting and audit trails
ROI-positive within 90 days for most companies
Your free CFO HR cost analysis.
We'll map your current HR spend, quantify your liability exposure, and model the ROI of switching to embedded HR leadership — with real numbers, not estimates.
Free. 30 minutes. Bring your P&L.