Most workers want major change in how they get paid | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

At some point in your working life, you probably had a job where you got paid by the hour and collected a paycheck every other week.

Maybe you still do.

The bi-weekly pay structure is how millions of Americans get paid, yet this structure is a huge stressor for lots of people.

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With a paycheck always a few days or weeks ahead, one unexpected expense, like a car repair or a medical bill, can mean an overdraft at the bank or a massive credit card bill that is hard to repay.

The bi-weekly pay structure is also one reason companies like Dollar Loan Center, MoneyMutual, and Advance America — businesses that offer short-term “paycheck” loans — have thrived over the years, even though they frequently face accusations of predatory lending practices.

Now, a new study reveals insight that might make employers reconsider how they manage this part of their business.

The typical paycheck schedule is every two weeks.

Image source&colon; Shutterstock

Bi‑weekly pay leads to chronic stress

The current pay structure has hidden consequences. Workers must manage bill due dates and budget for food, rent, phone, internet, etc., all while wondering whether their next check will cover it.

For hourly workers who don’t have much savings, the cycle can create a frenzy of short-term financial triage.

The constant financial juggling can take a toll on mental health, straining relationships and reducing productivity at work — all of which is bad for employers.

In a recent Talker Research-commissioned survey, conducted May 13-21, 2025, among 2,000 U.S. hourly workers, including 1,000 who work in retail, nearly 39% reported that living paycheck to paycheck with a consistent income would be an upgrade compared to their current financial situation — and 44% had recently overdrafted their account.

“For a long time, ‘living paycheck to paycheck’ was considered to be the lowest tier of financial wellness,” a Talker Research spokesperson told TheStreet. “In this tier, people aren’t able to put their money into savings or level up financially because all their money is going toward immediate needs like rent and groceries. But now, the data shows that many aren’t even able to live paycheck to paycheck, slipping into an even lower tier of financial wellness.”

The survey also found:

38% of hourly workers have less than $1,000 in savings.
19% of hourly workers took out loans in the past year to get through the pay cycle.
34% of hourly workers rely on two or more jobs to stay afloat.
Many resort to extreme measures — selling personal property or even dumpster diving — to survive, according to the survey.

This data suggests that current pay structures are both inconvenient and insufficient.

On‑demand pay is a preference for many, not just a perk

The solution may lie in on-demand pay, also known as “earned wage access” (EWA), where workers can access a portion of their earned wages before designated paydays.

Of course, there are dozens of companies competing for employers’ attention in this sector. DailyPay, Payactiv, Earnin, Branch, ZayZoon, and Wagestream are just a few of the EWA companies that have popped up in the last few years.

The survey found that 78% of workers believe having this option would stabilize their finances.

Among those already receiving on-demand wages, results are promising, per Talker Research:

22% of hourly workers used their wages for groceries and essentials;
20% of hourly workers avoided late or missed bill payments; and
15% of hourly workers reported lower financial stress.

These sorts of changes could also benefit employers. Since financial stress correlates with mental strain, absenteeism, and lower productivity, employers who rethink paydays could be rewarded with a stronger workforce.

In a tight labor market, anything that makes it easier to attract and retain talent is a benefit.