What is a Paycheck Advance and Why You Should Avoid Them

Financial emergencies arise in all of our lives. From an unexpected medical payment to an auto emergency, if an employee isn’t prepared for these surprises, they can be stressed and hurt their financial wellness.

In certain situations, individuals facing emergencies often wrongly perceive paycheck advances from their employer as the only option for accessing immediate funds. Limited financial knowledge or awareness can lead them to believe these are the sole solution available, despite the risks and drawbacks associated with this borrowing method. 

A paycheck advance from an employer involves paying an employee slightly ahead of payday. A paycheck advance, also known as a salary advance, is a short-term borrowing option. It provides employees with immediate cash flow to address financial needs or emergencies in the short term although the long-term implications may outweigh the perceived benefits.

Why You Should Consider On-Demand Pay Instead of a Paycheck Advance to Your Employees

Although there are some apparent surface-level benefits of a paycheck advance, there are further implications you should consider first such as a burden on payroll or further implications about repayment if the employee leaves their job before repayment.¹

On-demand pay, also known as earned wage access, can serve as a viable alternative to paycheck advances. This innovative financial tool allows employees to access a portion of their earned wages in advance of payday, providing a flexible and convenient way to address immediate financial needs. 

Unlike paycheck advances, on-demand pay does not involve borrowing money against future earnings but instead provides access to wages that an employee has already earned without a financial burden on the employer. 

DailyPay is a non-disruptive payment application that allows your employees to access their earned wages on their schedule without sorting through the tax implications or any additional burdens on employers that may come with a paycheck advance. 

DailyPay is an easier alternative to paycheck advances. Offering earned wage access benefits more than just your employees, it can also help increase retention and productivity. 

Learn more about the benefits of earned wage access. 

When employees find financial security at a job, they stay longer. This results in measurably reduced turnover costs, which allows companies to be more competitive in all areas of their business.

Want to learn more about how DailyPay can help you reduce turnover?