Frequently Asked Questions
About SME & Associates, Inc.
What is SME & Associates, Inc.?
SME & Associates, Inc. is a Corporate Office Resource, Business Services Company, Workforce Solutions Provider, and Employment Agency. We support job seekers, employees, independent contractors, employers, small businesses, healthcare organizations, medical professionals, and businesses across multiple industries.
Our services are designed to help individuals find employment opportunities while helping employers and businesses manage workforce, administrative, operational, human resources, payroll, compliance, and business-support needs.
Our mission is simple:
Building Businesses. Creating Opportunities. Keeping People Working.
What services does SME & Associates, Inc. provide?
SME & Associates, Inc. provides a variety of business and workforce services, including:
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Business development and business planning
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Business reorganization and operational planning
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Workforce planning and staffing solutions
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Human Resources and Payroll Services
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Employment placement
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Direct-hire recruiting
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Contract-to-hire services
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Talent Acquisition services
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Recruiting and candidate sourcing
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Employee and contractor onboarding support
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Business contracts and employment agreements
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Policies and procedure development
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Administrative business support
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Licensing and permit assistance
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Insurance and non-judicial bonding administrative assistance
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Compliance support
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Business documentation
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Medical and healthcare business services
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Collections and accounts receivable support
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Payment posting
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Administrative audits
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Remote administrative services
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Workforce training and professional development
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Contact Center opportunities
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Career and employment support
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Services may vary based on the needs of the business, industry, agreement, and applicable requirements.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Does SME & Associates only work with employers?
No.
SME & Associates, Inc. works with employers and businesses of all types, including small businesses, established companies, professional organizations, medical offices, healthcare organizations, and other businesses that need administrative, workforce, HR, payroll, compliance, staffing, or business-support services.
Our goal is to provide businesses with practical resources that can help them organize, operate, grow, and manage their workforce.
Can my business use SME & Associates for services other than hiring?
Yes.
Businesses do not have to be hiring to utilize SME & Associates, Inc.
Depending on the business's needs, we may provide assistance with HR and payroll administration, contracts, onboarding, workforce administration, business documentation, policies and procedures, licensing and permits, insurance and bonding administration, compliance support, collections, payment posting, audits, and other administrative business services.
Do you provide HR and Payroll Services?
Yes.
SME & Associates, Inc. provides HR and Payroll Services to qualifying businesses. Services may include employment documentation, onboarding, hiring and termination administration, payroll administration, employee records, HR correspondence, policies and procedures, workforce administration, and related business-support services.
The specific services provided are determined by the business's service agreement.
Can SME & Associates help my business with contracts?
Yes.
We can assist businesses with preparing, organizing, reviewing, and administering business and employment-related contracts and documentation.
Legal matters that require the advice or representation of a licensed attorney should be handled by qualified legal counsel.
Can SME & Associates help businesses with licensing and permits?
Yes.
SME & Associates can provide administrative assistance with business licensing, permits, documentation, preparation, organization, and coordination.
Approval of any license or permit remains with the applicable government agency or regulatory authority.
Can SME & Associates assist with insurance or bonding?
We may provide administrative preparation and coordination assistance related to insurance requirements and certain non-judicial bonding needs.
Insurance coverage, underwriting, and approval are determined by the applicable insurance company, bonding company, or regulatory authority.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
How do I apply for a job?
Job seekers should apply through the SME & Associates, Inc. Job Portal.
Applicants may be required to submit an application, resume, assessments, and other requested information depending on the position.
Does SME & Associates guarantee employment?
SME & Associates, Inc. is committed to helping qualified individuals pursue employment opportunities through multiple employment pathways.
However, specific employment is dependent upon position availability, qualifications, screening requirements, client requirements, program requirements, successful onboarding, and other applicable conditions.
For eligible individuals participating in our Contact Center opportunities, available work may also provide an additional employment pathway while the individual continues pursuing other opportunities.
What types of employment opportunities are available?
Depending on current openings and client needs, employment opportunities may include:
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Direct employment
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Direct hire
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Employment placement
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Contract-to-hire
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Contact Center positions
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Customer service
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Professional and specialized positions
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Healthcare-related positions
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Talent Acquisition opportunities
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Other workforce opportunities
Available positions change based on business and client needs.
DIRECT HIRE
What is Direct Hire?
Direct Hire is a recruiting and placement service in which SME & Associates, Inc. identifies, screens, and presents qualified candidates for consideration by a business.
If the business selects the candidate and completes the hiring process, the candidate becomes an employee of that business according to the business's employment terms.
Talent Acquisitions handles the recruiting and candidate-matching process. HR and payroll services for a direct-hire employee are handled by the hiring business unless a separate service agreement states otherwise.
CONTRACT-TO-HIRE
What is Contract-to-Hire?
Contract-to-Hire allows a candidate to work under a contract with SME & Associates, Inc. before potentially being hired directly by the participating business.
During the contract period, SME & Associates, Inc. may handle applicable employment administration, onboarding, payroll, and workforce-support responsibilities according to the agreement.
The business may have the opportunity to evaluate the working relationship before making a direct-hire decision.
How long is the Contract-to-Hire period?
Contract-to-Hire arrangements may begin with an initial 90-day period, subject to the applicable agreement.
Before the end of the initial period, the business may be required to provide its decision regarding whether to:
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Hire the candidate
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Continue the contract
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End the contract
Any extension or additional contract period must follow the applicable agreement.
JOB SEEKERS SAFETY NET
What is the Job Seekers Safety Net?
The Job Seekers Safety Net is SME & Associates' employment-support concept designed to help qualified individuals maintain access to available work opportunities while continuing to pursue better employment opportunities.
The goal is:
You Work. You Earn. We Keep Looking.
When eligible opportunities are available, an individual may be able to continue working through a Contact Center or other available SME opportunity while Talent Acquisitions continues searching for positions that may provide a better match for the individual's qualifications, experience, career goals, or desired compensation.
Can I work another full-time job and still work through the Contact Center?
Potentially, yes.
Eligible individuals may be able to use Contact Center opportunities as supplemental income while maintaining another job.
This is subject to the applicable agreement, client requirements, scheduling requirements, conflicts of interest, attendance requirements, and program rules.
Individuals should review their applicable employment or contractor agreement before working for multiple businesses or programs.
Can the Contact Center be my primary source of income?
It may be possible for eligible individuals to use available Contact Center opportunities as a primary source of income.
However, SME & Associates, Inc. does not guarantee a specific number of hours, assignments, earnings, or income unless specifically provided in an applicable written agreement.
Work availability depends on client programs, business needs, scheduling, qualifications, and other applicable requirements.
Can I use the Contact Center as a second source of income?
Yes, when permitted under the applicable agreement and program requirements.
The Contact Center may provide eligible individuals with an opportunity to earn supplemental income while they work another job or continue searching for another employment opportunity.
TALENT ACQUISITIONS
What does the Talent Acquisitions Department do?
The SME & Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisitions Department focuses on recruiting, sourcing, screening, matching, and placing qualified candidates into available opportunities.
Talent Acquisitions may assist with professional, specialized, healthcare, executive, and other positions requiring specific qualifications or experience.
The department may also continue assisting qualified candidates in identifying additional opportunities that may better match their qualifications and career objectives.
Does Talent Acquisitions provide HR and Payroll services for Direct Hire candidates?
Not for a standard Direct Hire placement.
Talent Acquisitions focuses on recruitment, candidate screening, matching, and placement. Once a candidate is hired directly by a business, HR and payroll responsibilities generally belong to the hiring business unless a separate service agreement provides otherwise.
SERVICES FOR EMPLOYERS AND ALL BUSINESSES
Can any business request services from SME & Associates?
Businesses may contact SME & Associates, Inc. to discuss their needs.
Our services may be appropriate for:
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Small businesses
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Startups
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Established businesses
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Employers
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Medical offices
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Healthcare organizations
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Professional organizations
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Businesses needing staffing
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Businesses needing HR or payroll support
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Businesses needing administrative assistance
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Businesses needing workforce solutions
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Businesses needing business-support services
Services are subject to availability, qualification, business needs, and applicable agreements.
How can a business request employment services?
A business can submit an employment or workforce request through the appropriate SME & Associates business request process.
Requests may be routed to:
Talent Acquisitions for Direct Hire, recruiting, candidate sourcing, or referral services.
Corporate Office for Contract-to-Hire, HR, payroll, workforce administration, and other business services.
Once a request is received, the business may receive instructions for establishing access to the appropriate secured business portal.
MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE BUSINESS SERVICES
Does SME & Associates work with healthcare businesses?
Yes.
SME & Associates, Inc. provides business and administrative support services that may be available to medical offices, healthcare organizations, healthcare professionals, and related businesses.
Services may include:
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Collections
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Payment posting
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Accounts receivable support
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Administrative audits
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Documentation review
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Administrative organization
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Remote administrative services
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Business process support
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Workforce solutions
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Training and professional development
Services are subject to the applicable agreement and regulatory requirements.
Does SME & Associates provide healthcare training?
SME & Associates may offer or coordinate workforce training and professional-development opportunities, which may include areas such as:
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Phlebotomy
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IV-related training
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Certification preparation
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Healthcare workforce training
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Professional development
Training availability, certification requirements, and eligibility may vary by program.
CONTACT CENTER
Are Contact Center positions remote?
Contact Center positions may be remote and are generally designed for work-from-home operations.
Specific work requirements, technology requirements, schedules, and client-program conditions vary by position.
Does SME & Associates provide the equipment?
Equipment requirements vary by position and client program.
Candidates should review the requirements of the specific position before beginning work.
THE CONTACT CENTER AGENTS ARE NOT PROVIDED WITH EQUIPMENT:
YOU MUST HAVE YOUR OWN DESKTOP/LAPTOP,HEADSETS,INTERNET AND ETHERNET CONNECTIONS.
What types of Contact Center work are available?
Depending on available programs, Contact Center opportunities may include:
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Inbound customer service
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Outbound customer service
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Appointment scheduling
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Customer support
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Administrative support
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Other client-specific programs
EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS
Are all workers employees of SME & Associates?
No.
The employment relationship depends on the specific position and agreement.
SME & Associates may work with individuals as employees, independent contractors, temporary workers, contract workers, or candidates placed directly with another business.
The applicable classification and terms are determined by the position, agreement, and applicable law.
Are benefits available?
Benefits depend on employment classification, position, eligibility requirements, and the applicable employment agreement. At this current time SME & Associates, Inc does not provide benefits. However, Direct Hire candidates employers may offer benefits.
Employees should review their applicable benefits information and employment documentation for current eligibility and available benefits.
PAYROLL AND TIMESHEETS
How does payroll work?
Payroll procedures depend on the individual's classification and applicable agreement.
Employees and contractors may be required to accurately submit and verify timesheets, hours worked, attendance, and other payroll information.
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CONTRACT TO HIRE -REQUIRES A TIMESHEET EITH THE EMPLOYEES SIGNATURE
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CALL CENTER AGENTS TIME IS COMPUTED THROUGH OUR PLATFORM AND GENERATED BY PHONE TIME AND INVOICING* Please Note** If you work the call center and have time missing you must request a incident ticket for payroll to investigate the missing hours. we pay based off the invoiced hours, if those hours were not calculated by the call time log when the pay period is pulled you will not be paid for unaccounted hours.
What happens if my hours are missing?
Individuals should promptly report missing or incorrect hours through the designated payroll or support process.
SME & Associates may review submitted timesheets and supporting records before making payroll corrections.
A INCIDENT TICKET MUST BE REQUESTED TO INVESIGATE THE MISSING HOURS. NO EXCEPTIONS
COMPLAINTS AND COMPLIANCE
How do I submit a complaint?
Complaints and workplace concerns should be submitted through the appropriate SME & Associates compliance or corporate-support process.
Depending on the nature of the complaint, the matter may be documented and assigned for review.
Individuals should provide accurate information, relevant documentation, dates, and details concerning the issue.
A case will be created and a reference number will be provided. Complaints take from 48hrs after receiving up to 2 weeks to complete the investigation:
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COMPLAINTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO OUR EXTERNAL COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTIGATION. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS
EMAIL THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AT :
Compliance@smeassociatesinc.com or smeaainc.compliance@outlook.com
Does SME & Associates handle unemployment or workers' compensation matters?
SME & Associates may provide administrative support concerning employment-related claims, documentation, unemployment matters, appeals, or workers' compensation-related administrative issues when applicable.
Responsibility for a claim depends on the individual's employment classification, applicable agreement, insurance coverage, client relationship, and governing law.
UNLESS YOU ARE A W2 EMPLOYEE WITH OUR COMPANY DIRECTLY AND NOT A CONTRACTOR OR CONTRACT TO HIRE AND/OR WORK DIRECTLY AT OUR COMPANY LOCATIONS. WE DO NOT PROVIDE UNEMPLOYMENT OR WORKERS COMPENSATION
COMPANY INFORMATION
Where is SME & Associates, Inc. located?
SME & Associates, Inc. maintains its corporate office in Frisco, Texas.
Our services may support businesses, workers, and employment opportunities beyond the immediate local area.
How can I contact SME & Associates, Inc.?
Corporate Office
SME & Associates, Inc.
3333 Preston Road, Suite 300
Frisco, Texas 75034
Corporate Office: 972-827-8494
Email: Corporate@smeassociatesinc.com
Job Seekers: Visit the SME & Associates Job Portal to view and apply for available positions.
Talent Acquisitions: Talent.Acquistions@smeassociatesinc.com
SME & Associates, Inc.
Building Businesses. Creating Opportunities. Keeping People Working.
DISCLAIMER:
Information provided on this page is general information and does not replace an applicable employment agreement, business-service agreement, client agreement, company policy, or professional legal, tax, medical, insurance, or financial advice. Specific services and requirements may vary by position, client, business, industry, and applicable law.