Discover the compelling reasons why employees are increasingly drawn to and remain committed to employers who provide Earned Wage Access (EWA). Not only does EWA enhance the recruitment and retention process, but it also amplifies productivity and fosters greater engagement.
Earned Wage Access, or EWA, is a solution that gives employees access to their earned pay before their next paycheck. EWA is often a component of an organization's broader financial wellness program that can help employees manage unexpected expenses. EWA programs are also a great benefit to the businesses that use them.
For clarification, it's important to note what EWA is not.
Earned wage access (EWA) has become a widely accepted solution for enhancing employee financial security, talent recruitment, and retention.
The payment landscape has transformed in the last decade, with new payment methods changing how consumers pay for goods and services and manage their finances. These trends have influenced how employees prefer to receive and manage their pay, creating fresh challenges and opportunities for employers.
By enabling employees to access their earned wages before their next pay period, they can pay their bills on time and handle unexpected expenses without incurring late fees, overdraft fees, or predatory payday loans.
Today, EWA programs have progressed from the initial adoption stage to an established business practice included in the employee benefits package. When used efficiently, EWA programs can offer employees greater financial security.
How Earned Wage Access Recruits & Retains Employees
EWA has sparked widespread interest among workers of all ages, educational backgrounds, and income levels. According to a recent poll, 66% of employees working for companies without EWA expressed willingness to embrace it if their employer offered it. Furthermore, 82% of employers with over 1,000 employees who didn't provide EWA expressed their eagerness to adopt it. More and more people are stressed by rising inflation and costs, causing more employees to live paycheck-to-paycheck.
Valuing employees in the workplace leads to increased productivity, happiness, and reliability. A study by Mercator Advisory Group revealed that flexible pay benefits employees and results in a 27% increase in job retention. Here are the reasons why:
Financial Wellness
With EWA, employees can take charge of their finances and cover essential expenses like bills and groceries. EWA can also boost their overall financial well-being. Unfortunately, over 50% of American workers live paycheck to paycheck, leaving them vulnerable to late payments and service disconnections that can damage their credit scores. In dire situations, employees may rely on credit cards or payday loans, with hefty fees and high-interest rates. You can help your workers avoid overdraft fees, payday loans, and credit card interest by giving them access to on-demand pay providers. Access to on-demand pay providers allows them to manage their budget and make smarter financial choices that work for their unique situation.
Flexibility, Stability, and Security
Employees can better manage how and when they receive their hard-earned money, making aligning with their financial obligations more manageable. In addition, they can access emergency funds instantly to cover unexpected expenses without adding to their debt. Plus, those without a bank account can have an alternative solution to access their money.
Savings
Employees can better track their income and expenses, giving them the power to manage their money more effectively and save in the long run.
How Earned Wage Access Supports Core Business Strategy
EWA Has Surpassed Expectations
Employers offering EWA have reported a swift and extensive adoption across their workforce.. According to a survey, 20% of employees expressed their desire to use EWA every or every other pay period. Additionally, out of the employees who already have access to EWA, an overwhelming 62% used it every or every other pay period.
Millennials Prefer Job Offers with EWA
EWA is a game-changer for millennials in the job market. According to recent surveys, 59% of millennials prioritize job offers from employers offering EWA. Moreover, 57% of millennials say EWA availability would influence their decision to accept a job offer. By offering EWA, employers can gain a competitive edge in recruiting and retaining top talent.
Recruitment & Retention
EWA can set your company apart in a competitive job market and help you attract a wider pool of applicants while speeding up the hiring process. Recent survey results show that employees of all ages, educational backgrounds, and income levels place a high value on EWA, making it a critical factor in today's labor market. You can attract new talent and retain your current workforce by offering EWA. Studies indicate that EWA can increase employee loyalty by 78% and reduce turnover by almost 36%.
Productivity
Financial stress is a shared concern today; your employees are no exception. The burden of bills can weigh heavily on financially strapped employees, leading to decreased productivity and availability at work. Reducing their financial worries can boost their focus and productivity, making them feel more valuable. EWA provides a perfect solution by offering your employees visibility into their daily earnings and immediate access to cash. With financial confidence, your employees will be more involved and productive at work and less likely to be distracted by stress or the need for a second job.
EWA services connect an employer's payroll system and give employees access to a portion of their earned wages based on the hours they've already worked.
EWA services vary depending on the provider, but most services allow employers to set the frequency for employee payouts. The frequency may be a certain number of times per day, week, month, etc.
Here's how it works:
When evaluating and implementing an EWA solution, it's essential to consider the following factors:
Earned wage access is a great benefit to offer employees. Still, it can also come with downsides if employees are not educated about how to use the service. Let's examine some pros and cons of using earned wage access.
Benefits of Earned Wage Access
Earned wage access has been around for years and is a win-win for employers and employees, offering the following benefits to both.
Benefits for Employees:
Benefits for Employers:
Downsides of Using Earned Wage Access
While there are many benefits to using earned wage access services, employees must carefully consider the potential drawbacks. Employers can help by providing plenty of information and resources to help employees manage their finances. Here are a couple of things to consider before using or offering EWA services:
Fees and Restrictions:
Some EWA providers charge fees or impose restrictions on the money available for early access.
Reduced Take-Home Pay:
Early access to earned wages means that the employee's regular paycheck will be reduced by the amount taken out before the regular payday. This is something that employees will need to be aware of and prepared for when using EWA services.
What is the Difference Between Earned Wage Access and Cash Advance Apps?
While both earned wage access (EWA) and cash advance apps offer access to money before payday, they are very different.
With EWA services, employees have early access to wages they've already earned based on their work hours. The amount of money available with the EWA is limited to the employee's earnings. Earned wage access is offered as a benefit by employers to their employees.
Cash advance apps offer loans that accrue interest and often have high fees and interest rates. These loans usually come from financial institutions that are not associated with banks. Cash advance apps may also require credit checks or other forms of eligibility that employees may be unable to meet.
With ReadyPay Today, Proliant's earned wage access solution, employers can offer their employees peace of mind with an easy-to-use, worry-free service.
Proliant's earned wage access services come with resources to answer employee questions and concerns and to help them make sound financial plans.
ReadyPay Today is an EWA service with no fees or restrictions. Employers can choose the frequency of employee payouts and set limitations based on what is best for their employees.
Are you ready to provide employees greater financial security while reducing absenteeism and turnover with ReadyPay Today? Contact Proliant today to schedule a consultation.
Employers must deposit and report employment taxes regularly, typically quarterly for most businesses. In addition, employers withhold taxes from their employees and are required to pay their share of taxes, which are called employer payroll taxes. These taxes include Social Security, Medicare, and state and federal unemployment.
These duties include:
By fulfilling these responsibilities, you avoid penalties and fines and ensure that your employees receive their total wages without any discrepancies. Additionally, you can use the financial reports generated to analyze your business's payroll expenses and make informed budgeting and resource allocation decisions.