DALLAS, Texas – May 14, 2010 – While the media has bombarded the American people with news of the recently passed $940 billion healthcare reform package, the fact remains that for most small business owners, there are matters more timely and pressing than healthcare reform.

"There’s no doubt that healthcare reform is an important issue, and one that business owners should have a strong interest in," said Mark Sinatra, President of Staff One, a leading human resources outsourcing firm. "However, in today’s economy, business owners need to focus on getting the most out of their employees while maintaining a litigation-free environment."

Staff One has developed the thought leadership paper "10 Things That Are More Important for Businesses Than Healthcare Reform" to help business owners navigate the complexities of being employers of choice.

The paper details many of the risks small businesses face in the upcoming year. Among them:

• Tax increases – U.S. businesses could see record-setting taxes soon. Between the expiration of various Bush tax cuts, rising state and municipal taxes, and other tax increases, many business could see increases of as much as 25%. It may be a challenge for small businesses to keep up.

• The cost of unemployment – Record levels of unemployment have resulted in unemployment tax insurance increases in most states. How is your state affected?

• The rising cost of healthcare – Despite healthcare reform, healthcare costs are likely to rise at an increasing rate, and business owners need to be aware of this and the effect on their business’s profitability.

• The high cost of legal compliance – New laws in the employment sector continue to multiply, and simply complying with each of them costs a business over $7,500 per employee. If a compliance mistake is made, it can cost a business owner potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fines and more in legal fees and wasted time.

Staff One’s thought leadership paper "10 Things That Are More Important for Businesses Than Healthcare Reform" delves into these issues and many more, putting a fine point on the pitfalls of running a business in an era of rising taxes and increased regulation.

Business owners shouldn’t let the headlines distract them from the priorities of running their business and tending to matters far more pressing than healthcare reform. Download Staff One’s thought leadership paper "10 Things That Are More Important for Businesses Than Healthcare Reform" to see what these front-burner issues are and how Staff One can help business owners overcome the challenges they face.