March saw, arguably, the first piece of truly negative news for our industry. The NY Post's article on Earnin has brought increased scrutiny on the practice of providing daily pay benefits.
By Kevin Dugan
Originally appeared in the NY Post on March 28, 2019
Earnin, a Silicon Valley-based cash-advance app, has been subpoenaed in New York over concerns that its business practices are violating lending laws in the state. Specifically, the app’s “tips” feature is under fire as some say it may actually be a high-interest payday lending feature, which has been banned in New York, along with 14 other states.
By Rhett Power
Originally appeared on Inc.com on March 6th, 2019
Employee experience is one of the hottest buzzwords in human resources right now. It’s being used as a term to define someone’s overall workplace satisfaction. And, technology is quickly becoming the key driver to an exceptional employee experience. What four ways can your organization improve your tech to improve your employee’s perception about you?
Spoiler alert: one solution is to improve the financial wellness of your employees through state-of-the-art technology solutions.
By Liz Weston
Originally appeared on NASDAQ.com on March 14, 2019
While insurance and retirement accounts have been incorporated into many employee benefit packages across the U.S. for years, programs to help other aspects of financial wellbeing, including alleviating debt, haven’t been mainstream. However, as more research reveals the true impact financial stress has on employees, and on an employer’s bottom line, the dynamic is changing. Discover how some organizations are putting a special spotlight on their employee’s complete financial well-being.
By Jason Lee
Originally appeared on Media Planet's Future of Business and Tech on March 22, 2019
Research shows roughly 78 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. When employees are stressed, it impacts a business's bottom line — touching everything from customer satisfaction to a business’s growth potential. Financial stress is also the #1 cause for workplace turnover. To address the issues that come with financial stress, many companies are investing in financial wellness initiatives designed to get employees out of their heads and back to work.
By Kirk Falconer
Originally appeared on PE Hub Network on March 12, 2019
ZayZoon, a Calgary-based provider of employee financial payroll solutions, has secured $15 million in financing. The round was backed by a group of investors, including Prairie Merchant Corp and Bluesky Equities Ltd. Launched in 2014 by CEO Darcy Tuer and President Tate Hackert, ZayZoon partners with payroll businesses and employers to give employees a financial wellness platform, including access to early wages on-demand.
Stay up-to-date with the latest in employee benefits news across the U.S. workforce to improve your recruiting strategies, retention rates, and overall employee experience.
By Doug Whiteman
Originally appeared on MoneyWise on February 8, 2019
When you’re short on money, acquiring a payday loan is tempting. However, accepting a payday loan is a slippery slope. With annual interest rates on payday loans amounting to roughly 400%, it’s easy to bite off more than you can chew, and wind up in a vicious cycle of debt as a result.
Luckily, alternative options are available.
Among the four other options listed in the following article, working with employers to access earned by unpaid wages, without waiting on a typical payday is a viable option.
By Danielle Kost
Originally appeared on Forbes on February 7, 2019
Because of the tight labor market, competition for top talent in the modern U.S. workforce is fierce. For this reason, hiring and retention strategies are more important than ever for businesses. That means organizations must think differently about the types of benefits they offer.
As it is now, almost three-quarters of employees are providing care to a child, parent or friend. By zeroing in on employees who are caregivers, and finding unique benefits to satisfy their needs, organizations may have a unique advantage in the marketplace.
By Margaret Ady
Originally appeared on Hospitality Net on January 28, 2019
The hospitality sector has one of the highest turnover rates of all industries in the U.S. High turnover, especially in a customer-facing industry, puts your quality of service, workplace morale, and productivity outputs in jeopardy. What can hoteliers do to keep their employees happy?
Experts recommend taking a step back and focusing on staff first.
By Tina Rosenberg
Originally appeared in The NY Times on February 4, 2019
The recent government shutdown painted a picture of just how tight an average American’s budget is. The shutdown also showed how access to funds and control over payments could help the typical American during sticky situations.
A variety of applications are slowly starting to transform fiscal responsibility, and starting to give the average American more control over their financing.
By Kris Kinkade
Originally appeared in USA Today on February 15, 2019
Understanding the state of American finances can help employers make strategic decisions about benefits and compensation.
As it is today, Americans have accumulated 21% more debt than the $12.7 trillion owed in 2008 during the height of the Great Recession. Worse still, roughly 7 million Americans say they are behind on their auto loan payments by 90 days or more.
And, for most Americans, having a vehicle is essential to get them to and from work. What does this mean for the economy?
By Liz Warren
Originally appeared on BuiltInNYC on February 5, 2019
With plenty of competition and talent in New York, tech companies in the city must cut through the noise by exceeding business standards. Online publication, Built In, analyzed tech startups in New York who have done just that - cut through the noise with their exemplary products and compiled a list of the most standout organizations.
To qualify for their analysis, companies must be five years old or less and have attracted key investors because of their well-crafted products and ingenuity.
The following article details Built In’s top 50 picks, one of which includes a major player in the daily payment benefit space.