EX-10.56 EMPLOYMENT OFFER LETTER/ MICHAEL COLLINS

EXHIBIT 10.56

February 20, 2006

VIA ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
Mr. Michael Collins

Dear Michael:

     We are very pleased to confirm our discussions regarding your joining Gevity as Chief Marketing Officer, based at our field support office in Bradenton, Florida. In this capacity, you will report directly to Roy King, President and Chief Operating Officer, and be primarily responsible for the duties and responsibilities of this position set forth below and as they may evolve over time. We have prepared the following general summary of the key terms of our offer of employment for your review.

		Start Date:		On or about March 13, 2006.
		Primary Duties:		Product/Solution Marketing & Management
				Strategy & Business Analysis
				Customer/Prospect & Market Requirements including field and
				customer driven enhancement requests
				Pricing
				Field & Customer Launches
				Product/Solutions Management
				Field Marketing & Sales Support
				Lead Generation & Management
				Telemarketing to generate and qualify leads
				New market and geography launch support
				Training
				Collateral/Sales Kits
				Database Marketing & Data Management
				Events — Gevity Business Edge seminars,
				Local Seminars & Webinars
				Business Development
				Affinity and Alliance Partnerships
				Market Strategy
				Competitive analysis, with these on-going findings being
				translated into web content and sales tools
				Market research including pricing studies

				Gevity Institute
				Leverage as competitive advantage as company penetrates middle
				market space
				External Marketing & Awareness Building
				Client/Partner Communications
				Marcom
				Collateral development
				Messaging/positioning
				Brand identity compliance
				Commercial content for website
				Corporate events and industry tradeshows
				Corporate communications and PR
				Other duties as assigned.
		Base Salary:		$265,000 per year payable in equal installments of
				$10,192.31 on the Company’s normal bi-weekly payroll
				schedule.
		Paid Time Off:		You will be eligible for a total of 216 hours of paid time
				off (including 4 weeks of paid vacation) during each
				calendar year of employment, prorated for partial years.
		Cash Bonus:		Commencing on the date of you employment, you will
				participate in a cash bonus program that will provide a
				target bonus amount equivalent to 50% of base salary at
				threshold, 66.7% at target and 100% at superior, calculated
				on the base salary actually paid to you during a calendar
				year. The actual amount of the award, either more or less,
				will be based, in part, on an evaluation of your individual
				performance and contribution, as well as the overall
				financial performance of the Company. Of course, all bonus
				payments and compensation decisions regarding executives
				are subject to final approval by the Board or a duly
				authorized Committee. For the 2006 calendar year, your
				bonus will be prorated based on your period of active
				employment during 2006, subject to a guaranteed payment
				equal to 25% of target.
		Long Tem
		Incentive:		Beginning in 2006, you will be eligible to participate in a
				long term incentive plan which provides for equity awards
				at the equivalent of 75% of base salary at threshold, 100%
				at target and 150% at superior,

				calculated on the base salary actually paid to you during a
				calendar year. The actual amount of the award, either more or
				less, will be based, in part, on an evaluation of your
				individual performance and contribution, as well as the overall
				financial performance of the Company. Awards are discretionary
				and are subject to approval by the Board or a duly authorized
				Committee thereof.
		Signing bonus:		You will also be eligible for a $15,000.00 sign-on bonus;
				you will be paid $5,000.00, less applicable taxes and
				withholdings, on your first regular payroll date; the
				remaining $10,000.00 will be paid on the first payroll date
				after 90 days of employment.
		Stock Options
		And Restricted
		Shares:		Initial Stock and Stock Option Award – As an inducement to
				commence employment with Gevity, you will receive an award
				of non-qualified stock options to purchase 50,000 shares of
				the Company’s common stock having a 10-year term and 4-year
				vesting schedule, pursuant to which 25% of such options
				vest on each anniversary of the date of the award. In
				addition, you will receive an award of 2,500 restricted
				shares of the Company’s common stock having a 4-year
				vesting schedule, pursuant to which 25% of such shares vest
				on each anniversary of the date of the award. Such options
				and restricted shares will be granted under and subject to
				the terms of the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.
				Typically, these awards are made on the first day of the
				month following your first date of employment.
		Benefits:		You are immediately eligible to participate in Gevity’s health and welfare
				benefits. Should you elect to participate in Gevity’s health and welfare
				benefits, they will begin immediately upon your hire date. You should submit
				your Benefits Election Form with your other new hire paperwork. If you have
				any questions about your health and welfare benefits, please contact internal
				Human Resources by calling MYHR (x6947). Remember — benefits enrollment is
				your responsibility. The Company’s contribution toward coverage commences
				as of your effective date. If you do not enroll at the time of your initial
				eligibility, you must wait for the next annual enrollment period or qualifying
				event. In addition, you will be eligible to participate in our benefit

				plans including a 401(k) consistent with other executives of the
				Company. A detailed summary will be provided to you.
		Relocation:		The Company will pay the closing costs and expenses associated with the
				sale of your primary residence in Virginia (“Home”). Additionally, and subject
				to a total relocation expense limitation of $100,000.00 (“Relocation Amount”),
				the Company will cover those standard items covered under the Company’s
				Relocation Policy; subject to the Relocation Amount limitation, the Company
				will also either pay or reimburse the following:

	•		Customary closing costs associated with the purchase of your residence in the Bradenton/Sarasota area;
	•		3 house hunting visits for you and your immediate family members;
	•		Packing, transportation, and, to the extent necessary, temporary storage of your belongings and household effects for a period not to exceed 6 months; and
	•		Actual rental expense for a temporary residence in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a period not to extend beyond 6 months from the date of your employment.

				Following closing on your residence in the Bradenton/Sarasota
				area, the Company shall promptly pay to you the Relocation
				Amount less any relocation expenses previously reimbursed or
				paid to you.
		Change in
		Control:		You will be eligible to enter into a Change in Control
				Severance Agreement in the form customarily used by the Company
				for other executives of the Company. Generally, the agreement
				provides for certain payments to you if you are terminated
				within a two (2) year period following a change in control of
				the Company. Please refer to the form of such agreement
				provided to you for the specific terms and conditions.
		General
		Severance:		In the event your employment is terminated for Good Reason or
				any reason other than for “Cause” within the first two (2)
				years of employment and provided you execute a full and
				complete general release of all

				employment-related claims, if any, against the Company, the
				Company will pay you the sum of one times your annual base
				salary, as in effect at the time of your termination. Such sum
				shall be paid to you in twenty-six (26) equal payments on the
				Company’s regular bi-weekly payroll cycle over the twelve (12)
				month period immediately following the termination of your
				employment but in no event shall payments extend beyond March
				15th of the year following your termination. In
				addition, during the Severance Period, you may continue to
				participate in the health and dental plans provided to you as of
				the date of termination at the same level and in the same manner
				as if your employment had not terminated. If the terms of any
				benefit plan referred to in this section do not permit your
				continued participation, then the Company will arrange for other
				coverage providing substantially similar coverage at no
				additional cost to you.
				For purposes of this offer, Paragraph 1(c) of the Change of
				Control Severance Agreement is incorporated herein to define
				“Cause” and the circumstances in which your employment may be
				terminated for Cause. “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s
				express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following
				events:

     (i) (A) any change in the duties or responsibilities of Executive that is inconsistent in any material and adverse respect with Executive’s primary position, duties, responsibilities, or status with the Company (including any material and adverse diminution of such duties or responsibilities) or (B) a material and adverse change in Executive’s titles or offices with the Company;

     (ii) a reduction by the Company in Executive’s rate of annual base salary or annual target bonus opportunity as the same may be increased from time to time; or

     (iii) any requirement of the Company that Executive be based anywhere more than fifty (50) miles from the office where Executive is located at the time of his initial employment.

				An isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good
				faith and which is remedied by the Company within ten (10) days
				after receipt of notice thereof given by Executive shall not
				constitute Good Reason. Executive’s

				right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be
				affected by Executive’s incapacities due to mental or physical
				illness and Executive’s continued employment shall not
				constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any event or condition constituting Good Reason; provided,
				however, that Executive must provide notice of termination of
				employment within thirty (30) days following Executive’s
				knowledge of an event constituting Good Reason or such event
				shall not constitute Good Reason under this Agreement.

     As a condition of employment, the Company must be satisfied that you are not subject to any agreement or understanding that would directly or indirectly restrict your ability to perform duties for the Company and you will be required to enter into our usual Non-Solicitation, Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreement. This agreement generally limits your solicitation of Company clients, use of the Company’s confidential information, and your employment by a competitor of Gevity for a period of one year after you leave the Company. A copy of this required document has also been provided to you. You will also need to successfully undergo a background check and drug screen prior to beginning employment.

     Please let us know whether you accept these general terms of employment, by signing in the space provided below, and returning a copy to my attention.

     Michael, we believe that the position of Chief Marketing Officer, provides an excellent opportunity for you to join a strong leadership team and share in the direct responsibility for the ongoing success of an exciting, challenging, and growing company.

     Our senior management and the board of directors look forward to welcoming you to the Gevity team.

Agreed to and Accepted by:

/s/ Michael Collins
Michael Collins

Date: February 23, 2006

Cc: Erik Vonk