Time on Time: The Real Unlock for Staffing Companies

Author: Michelle Peterson About the Author:  Michelle Peterson has led global payroll strategy at one of the top 5 staffing companies in the U.S for over a decade. She understands firsthand the challenges payroll and operations teams face in managing temp talent. As the leader in staffing solutions at Instant, she now advises workforce organizations on time clock efficiency, payroll modernization, employee engagement, and digital pay solutions.

When a temp worker fails to report hours on time, everything stalls. And in staffing, every delay costs money.

Having spent over a decade running global payroll at a top-five staffing firm, I can confidently say that unreported time is one of the biggest hidden drains on profitability. Late timesheets create payroll errors, missed employee payments, billing issues, and cash flow problems. The hours we lost chasing unreported time cards still make me shudder. 

Unreported Time: The Silent Killer

Unreported or late-submitted timecards might seem like a minor administrative issue, but they have far-reaching consequences, including:

• Payroll delays and errors
  If time is not submitted, payroll can’t be processed. This leads to incorrect paychecks, compliance risks, and potential legal exposure.
• Higher internal payroll costsChasing timecards is costly. Following up with just 240 employees each week (10 minutes each) can take 40+ hours of payroll staff time–that’s a full-time role!
• Disengaged, unhappy employeesDelayed pay breaks trust. Temps stop showing up. Turnover increases.
• Frequent pay and billing adjustmentsOne incorrect or missed timecard leads to cascading errors across payroll, billing, and tax reporting.
• Client dissatisfactionLate or incorrect invoices damage your reputation—and future contracts.
• Cash flow problemsYou pay workers before invoicing clients. Any delay or error pushes your receivables further out, draining your cash reserves.

But what if timecard submission could be automated by incentive—not enforcement?

That’s where earned wage access and payroll cards for employees come in.

What Is Earned Wage Access?

Earned wage access (EWA) allows employees to access a portion of their earned pay before the traditional payday. It’s not a loan. It’s a modern payroll solution that puts money in workers’ hands when they need it — typically the same day they work.

For staffing companies, EWA isn’t just a benefit. It’s a catalyst for better time reporting, stronger employee engagement and retention, and smoother payroll operations.  And it’s free to implement. 

How Instant Helps Staffing Companies Win

With Instant, temp employees get paid the same day they work — through payroll cards for employees or direct-to-bank options. The result? A built-in incentive to submit timecards accurately and on time.

Staffing companies using Instant report:

• Faster timecard submission
• Fewer payroll errors
• Stronger client relationships
• Healthier cash flow
• Happier, more engaged workers
• Easy to implement and no cost

Launch Instant in 8 Weeks – Without Disrupting Payroll

Whether you run a large staffing firm or a growing agency, Instant integrates seamlessly with your existing payroll system—so you and your talent can start reaping the benefits in under two months.

Stop chasing timecards. Start saving money.