Earned wage access (EWA) firms, which enable workers to access a portion of their earned but unpaid wages before payday, issued an estimated $32 billion to 10 million workers in 2022. Employee expectations reflect this demand: Three-quarters of employees believe their employer should offer EWA, and 83% want access to earned wages at the end of each day or shift.
EWA offers compelling advantages for employers, including improved employee engagement and lower absenteeism. But those benefits come with a cost: a complex and evolving regulatory landscape that payroll teams must navigate to mitigate compliance risk.
