XML 36 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.0.1
Accounting Policies (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Accounting Policies
1.Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Insperity, Inc. (“Insperity” or “we”, “our”, and “us”) provides an array of human resources (“HR”) and business solutions designed to help improve business performance. Since our formation in 1986, we have evolved from being solely a professional employer organization (“PEO”), an industry we pioneered, to our current position as a comprehensive business performance solutions provider. We were organized as a corporation in 1986 and have provided PEO services since inception.
Our most comprehensive HR services offerings are provided through our Workforce Optimization® and Workforce SynchronizationTM solutions (together, our “PEO HR Outsourcing solutions”), which encompass a broad range of human resources functions, including payroll and employment administration, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, government compliance, performance management and training and development services, along with our cloud-based human capital management platform, Insperity PremierTM.
In addition to our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions, we offer a comprehensive traditional payroll and human capital management solution, known as Workforce Acceleration. We also offer a number of other business performance solutions, including Performance Management, Organizational Planning, Recruiting Services, Employment Screening, Retirement Services and Insurance Services, many of which are offered as a cloud-based software solution. These other products or services are offered separately or with our other solutions.
We provide our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions by entering into a co-employment relationship with our clients, under which Insperity and its clients each take responsibility for certain portions of the employer-employee relationship. Insperity and its clients designate each party’s responsibilities through its Client Service Agreement (“CSA”), under which Insperity becomes an employer of the employees who work at the client’s location (“WSEE”) for most administrative and regulatory purposes.
As a co-employer of our WSEEs, we assume many of the rights and obligations associated with being an employer. We enter into an employment agreement with each WSEE, thereby maintaining a variety of employer rights, including the right to hire or terminate employees, the right to evaluate employee qualifications or performance, and the right to establish employee compensation levels. Typically, Insperity only exercises these rights in consultation with its clients or when necessary to ensure regulatory compliance. The responsibilities associated with our role as employer include the following obligations with regard to our WSEEs: (1) to compensate our WSEEs through wages and salaries; (2) to pay the employer portion of payroll-related taxes; (3) to withhold and remit (where applicable) the employee portion of payroll-related taxes; (4) to provide employee benefit programs; and (5) to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage.
In addition to our assumption of employer status for our WSEEs, our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions also include other human resources functions for our clients to support the effective and efficient use of personnel in their business operations. To provide these functions, we maintain a significant staff of professionals trained in a wide variety of human resources functions, including employee training, employee recruiting, employee performance management, employee compensation and employer liability management. These professionals interact and consult with clients on a daily basis to help identify each client’s service requirements and to ensure that we are providing appropriate and timely human capital management services.
Revenue and Direct Cost Recognition
We enter into contracts with our customers for human resources services based on a stated rate and price in the contract. Our contracts generally establish pricing for a period of 12 months, and are generally cancellable at any time by either party with 30-days’ notice. Our performance obligations are satisfied as services are rendered each month. The term between invoicing and when our performance obligations are satisfied is not significant. Payment terms are typically due concurrently with the invoicing of our PEO services. We do not have significant financing components or significant payment terms.
Our revenue is generally recognized ratably over the payroll period as WSEEs perform their service at the client worksite in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Customers are invoiced concurrently with each periodic payroll of its WSEEs. Revenues that have been recognized
but not invoiced represent unbilled accounts receivable included in accounts receivable, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Pursuant to the “practical expedients” provided under ASU No 2014-09, we expense sales commissions when incurred because the terms of our contracts are cancellable by either party with a 30-day notice. These costs are recorded in commissions in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Our revenue for our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions by geographic region and for our other products and services offerings are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)202120202019
Northeast$1,390,156 $1,189,837 $1,135,771 
Southeast630,342 509,846 499,201 
Central867,914 761,905 743,514 
Southwest993,747 935,634 1,001,845 
West1,033,996 839,347 880,434 
4,916,155 4,236,569 4,260,765 
Other revenue56,915 50,435 54,039 
Total revenue$4,973,070 $4,287,004 $4,314,804 

Our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions revenues are primarily derived from our gross billings, which are based on (1) the payroll cost of our WSEEs; and (2) a markup computed as a percentage of the payroll cost. The gross billings are invoiced concurrently with each periodic payroll of our WSEEs. Revenues, which exclude the payroll cost component of gross billings and therefore consist solely of markup, are recognized ratably over the payroll period as WSEEs perform their service at the client worksite.
In determining the pricing of the markup component of our gross billings, we take into consideration our estimates of the costs directly associated with our WSEEs, including payroll taxes, benefits and workers’ compensation costs, plus an acceptable gross profit margin. As a result, our operating results are significantly impacted by our ability to accurately estimate, control and manage our direct costs relative to the revenues derived from the markup component of our gross billings.
Consistent with our revenue recognition policy, our direct costs do not include the payroll cost of our WSEEs. Our direct costs associated with our revenue generating activities are primarily comprised of all other costs related to our WSEEs, such as the employer portion of payroll-related taxes, employee benefit plan premiums and workers’ compensation insurance costs.
Segment Reporting
We operate one reportable segment under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, Segment Reporting.
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Insperity, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that could potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk include accounts receivable and marketable securities.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
We invest our excess cash in federal government and municipal-based money market funds and debt instruments of U.S. municipalities. All highly liquid investments with stated maturities of three months or less from date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. Liquid investments with stated maturities of greater than three months are classified as marketable securities in current assets.
We account for marketable securities in accordance with ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. We determine the appropriate classification of all marketable securities as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading at the time of purchase, and re-evaluate such classification as of each balance sheet date. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, all of our investments in marketable securities were classified as available-for-sale, and as a result, were reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity (deficit). The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts from the date of purchase to maturity. Such amortization is included in interest income as an addition to or deduction from the coupon interest earned on the investments. We use the specific identification method of determining the cost basis in computing realized gains and losses on the sale of our available-for-sale securities. Realized gains and losses are included in other income.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method.
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
(in thousands)December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Land$6,215 $6,215 
Buildings and improvements206,449 125,704 
Computer hardware and software136,346 129,213 
Software development costs112,433 100,762 
Furniture, fixtures and other51,552 48,516 
Construction in progress(1)
— 84,668 
512,995 495,078 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(302,272)(278,822)
Property and equipment, net$210,723 $216,256 
____________________________________
(1)Construction in progress in 2020 was related to our corporate office expansion.

The estimated useful lives of property and equipment for purposes of computing depreciation are as follows:
Useful Life
Buildings and improvements530years
Computer hardware and software25years
Software development costs35years
Furniture, fixtures and other57years

Software development costs relate primarily to software code development, systems integration and testing of our proprietary professional employer information systems and are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal Use Software. Capitalized software development costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the software, generally three years. We recognized $10.9 million, $8.7 million and $7.8 million in amortization of capitalized computer software costs in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Unamortized software development costs were $35.4 million and $32.6 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
We periodically evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with ASC 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment. ASC 360-10 requires that an impairment loss be recognized for assets to be disposed of or held-for-use when
the carrying amount of an asset is deemed to not be recoverable. If events or circumstances were to indicate that any of our long-lived assets might be impaired, we would assess recoverability based on the estimated undiscounted future cash flows to be generated from the applicable asset. In addition, we may record an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value of the asset exceeded the fair value of the asset. Fair value is generally determined using an estimate of discounted future net cash flows from operating activities or upon disposal of the asset.
Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception of a contract in accordance with ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASUs clarifying the lease guidance. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit interest rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The lease terms used to calculate the ROU asset and related lease liability include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as an operating expense. We have lease agreements which require payments for lease and non-lease components and have elected to account for these as a single lease component related to our other operating facilities. Please read Note 11, “Leases,” for additional information.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Our goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment on an annual basis or when there is an indication that there has been a potential decline in the fair value of a reporting unit. Annually, we perform a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value has declined below its carrying value. This analysis considers various qualitative factors. Due to the nature of our business, all of our goodwill is associated with one reporting unit. We perform our annual impairment testing during the fourth quarter. Based on the results of our analysis, no impairment loss was recognized in 2021, 2020 or 2019.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had an aggregate carrying amount of goodwill acquired of $21.2 million, which has been reduced by cumulative impairment charges of $8.5 million. Accordingly, our goodwill balance at December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $12.7 million.
Health Insurance Costs
We provide group health insurance coverage to our WSEEs in our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions through a national network of carriers, including UnitedHealthcare (“United”), UnitedHealthcare of California, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, HMSA BlueCross BlueShield of Hawaii and Tufts, all of which provide fully insured policies or service contracts.
Approximately 87% of our costs related to health insurance coverage are provided under our policy with United. While the policy with United is a fully-insured plan, as a result of certain contractual terms, we have accounted for this plan since its inception using a partially self-funded insurance accounting model. Effective January 1, 2020, under the amended agreement with United, we no longer have financial responsibilities for participant’s annual claim costs that exceed $1 million. Accordingly, we record the cost of the United plan, including an estimate of the incurred claims, taxes and administrative fees (collectively the “Plan Costs”) as benefits expense, which is a component of direct costs, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated incurred claims are based upon: (1) the level of claims processed during each quarter; (2) estimated completion rates based upon recent claim development patterns under the plan; and (3) the number of participants in the plan, including both active and COBRA enrollees. Each reporting period, changes in the estimated ultimate costs resulting from claim trends, plan design and migration, participant demographics and other factors are incorporated into the benefits costs, which requires a significant level of judgment.
Additionally, since the plan’s inception, under the terms of the contract, United establishes cash funding rates 90 days in advance of the beginning of a reporting quarter. If the Plan Costs for a reporting quarter are greater than the premiums paid and owed to United, a deficit in the plan would be incurred and a liability for the excess costs would be accrued in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. On the other hand, if the Plan Costs for the reporting quarter are less than the premiums paid and owed to United, a surplus in the plan would be incurred and we would record an asset for the excess premiums
in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The terms of the arrangement require us to maintain an accumulated cash surplus in the plan of $9.0 million, which is reported as long-term prepaid insurance. In addition, United requires a deposit equal to approximately one day of claims funding activity, which was $6.5 million as of December 31, 2021, and is reported as a long-term asset. As of December 31, 2021, Plan Costs were more than the net premiums paid and owed to United by $22.0 million. As this amount is less than the agreed-upon $9.0 million surplus maintenance level, the $31.0 million difference is included in accrued health insurance costs, a current liability, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The premiums, including the additional quarterly premiums, owed to United at December 31, 2021, were $12.6 million, which is also included in accrued health insurance costs, a current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our benefits costs incurred included an increase of $4.9 million in 2021, a reduction of $0.2 million in 2020 and an increase of $2.3 million in 2019 for changes in estimated run-off related to prior periods.
Workers’ Compensation Costs
Our workers’ compensation coverage for our WSEEs in our PEO HR Outsourcing solutions has been provided through an arrangement with the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies or its predecessors (the “Chubb Program”) since 2007. The Chubb Program is fully insured in that Chubb has the responsibility to pay all claims incurred under the policy regardless of whether we satisfy our responsibilities. Under the Chubb Program, for claims incurred on or before September 30, 2019, we have financial responsibility to Chubb for the first $1 million layer of claims per occurrence and, for claims over $1 million, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $6 million per policy year for claims that exceed $1 million. Chubb bears the financial responsibility for all claims in excess of these levels. Effective for claims incurred on or after October 1, 2019, we have financial responsibility to Chubb for the first $1.5 million layer of claims per occurrence and, for claims over $1.5 million, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $6 million per policy year for claims that exceed $1.5 million.
Because we bear the financial responsibility for claims up to the levels noted above, such claims, which are the primary component of our workers’ compensation costs, are recorded in the period incurred. Workers’ compensation insurance includes ongoing health care and indemnity coverage whereby claims are paid over numerous years following the date of injury. Accordingly, the accrual of related incurred costs in each reporting period includes estimates, which take into account the ongoing development of claims and therefore requires a significant level of judgment.
We utilize a third-party actuary to estimate our loss development rate, which is primarily based upon the nature of WSEEs’ job responsibilities, the location of WSEEs, the historical frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims, and an estimate of future cost trends. Each reporting period, changes in the actuarial assumptions resulting from changes in actual claims experience and other trends are incorporated into our workers’ compensation claims cost estimates. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we reduced accrued workers’ compensation costs by $41.7 million, $42.1 million and $31.7 million, respectively, for changes in estimated losses related to prior reporting periods. Workers’ compensation cost estimates are discounted to present value at a rate based upon the U.S. Treasury rates that correspond with the weighted average estimated claim payout period (the average discount rate was 0.6% in both 2021 and 2020) and are accreted over the estimated claim payment period and included as a component of direct costs in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The following table provides the activity and balances related to incurred but not paid workers’ compensation claims:
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)20212020
Beginning balance$240,761 $242,904 
Accrued claims48,097 42,639 
Present value discount, net of accretion(898)740 
Paid claims(48,337)(45,522)
Ending balance$239,623 $240,761 
Current portion of accrued claims$46,929 $45,522 
Long-term portion of accrued claims192,694 195,239 
Total accrued claims$239,623 $240,761 

The current portion of accrued workers’ compensation costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021 and 2020 includes $3.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of workers’ compensation administrative fees.
The undiscounted accrued workers’ compensation costs were $255.1 million as of December 31, 2021 and $257.9 million as of December 31, 2020.
At the beginning of each policy period, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier establishes monthly funding requirements comprised of premium costs and funds to be set aside for payment of future claims (“claim funds”). The level of claim funds is primarily based upon anticipated WSEE payroll levels and expected workers’ compensation loss rates, as determined by the insurance carrier. Monies funded into the program for incurred claims expected to be paid within one year are recorded as restricted cash, a short-term asset, while the remainder of claim funds are included in deposits, a long-term asset in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. In 2021, we received $35.1 million for the return of excess claim funds related to the workers’ compensation program, which decreased deposits. As of December 31, 2021, we had restricted cash of $46.9 million and deposits of $185.0 million.
Our estimate of incurred claim costs expected to be paid within one year is included in current liabilities, while our estimate of incurred claim costs expected to be paid beyond one year is included in noncurrent liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Stock-Based Compensation
At December 31, 2021, we have one stock-based employee compensation plan under which we may issue awards. We account for this plan under the recognition and measurement principles of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, which requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values.
We generally make annual grants of unrestricted stock under our stock-based incentive compensation plan to our non-employee directors, officers and other management but changed to restricted stock units for employees in 2020. Restricted stock and restricted stock unit grants to officers and other employees generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units are valued based on the fair value on date of grant and the associated expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized over the requisite service period. Stock grants issued to non-employee directors are 100% vested on the grant date.
During 2020, we also granted performance-based restricted stock units to officers and other management, which vest or expire based on the achievement of various performance metrics. Performance-based restricted stock units have a vesting schedule of one year. The fair value of each performance-based restricted stock unit is the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. The compensation expense for such awards is recognized on a straight line basis over the requisite service period. Over the performance period, the number of shares expected to be issued is adjusted upward or downward based on the probability of achievement of the performance target.
Our Insperity Long-Term Incentive Program (the “LTIP”) provides for performance based long-term compensation awards in the form of performance units to certain employees based on the achievement of pre-established performance goals. Each performance unit represents the right to receive one common share at a future date based on our performance against certain targets. Performance units have a vesting schedule of three years. A portion of the LTIP grant to employees was considered a market-based performance award that cliff vests at the end of three years assuming continued employment and achievement of market-based performance goals. The fair value of each performance unit is the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of each market-based performance unit was determined through use of the Monte Carlo simulation method. The compensation expense for such awards is recognized on a straight line basis over the vesting term. Over the performance period the number of shares expected to be issued is adjusted upward or downward based on the probability of achievement of the performance target.
Company-Sponsored 401(k) Retirement Plans
Under our 401(k) retirement plan for corporate employees (the “Corporate Plan”), we matched 100% of eligible corporate employees’ contributions, ranging from 3% to 6% of the employees’ eligible compensation in 2021 and up to 6% of the employees’ eligible compensation in 2020 and 2019. Matching contributions under the Corporate Plan are immediately vested. During 2021, 2020 and 2019, we made matching contributions on behalf of corporate employees to the Corporate Plan of $8.2 million, $12.6 million and $11.4 million, respectively, and is included in salaries, wages and payroll taxes in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Under our separate 401(k) retirement plan for WSEEs (the “Worksite Employee Plan”), the match percentage for WSEEs
ranges from 0% to 6%, as determined by each client company. Matching contributions under the Worksite Employee Plan are immediately vested. During 2021, 2020 and 2019, we made matching contributions on behalf of WSEEs to the Worksite Employee Plan of $244.1 million, $199.2 million and $198.2 million, respectively.
Advertising
We expense all advertising costs as incurred.
Income Taxes
We use the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and income tax carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Please read Note 7, “Income Taxes,” for additional information.