By Monique Crapper
Author: Monique Crapper is a marketing strategist and copywriter with over 15 years of experience helping fintech brands grow and connect with their audiences. Known for combining data-backed strategy with authentic, human-centered storytelling, Monique crafts content that not only informs but also inspires action. Her work turns complex financial topics into engaging, accessible narratives that resonate with real people.
Key Insights from the 43rd Payroll Congress Convention and Expo
I can remember not so long ago when Sunday afternoon was my weekly shopping day. I’d spend the morning opening and shutting pantry doors as I planned the week’s meals in advance, and I’d meticulously write out a shopping list of essentials before heading to the grocery store.
But how that world is fading fast! Now I just click a button on my phone as and when I need an item, any hour of the day or night, and into my online cart they go, ready for checkout, payment, and delivery.
We live in an on-demand economy. A world where groceries show up at your door within the hour, entertainment is streamed at will, and dinner arrives in 20 minutes at your doorstep via an app (and an annoyingly large fee). The rhythm of consumer life has changed.
And just as the way we shop and spend has changed, so too has how we expect to earn and access our pay. In this new economic rhythm, the traditional two-week pay cycle is as outdated as paper shopping lists.
The Rise of On-Demand Pay
I sat in on a panel on the future of Earned Wage Access (EWA) at the recent Payroll Congress Convention and Expo, where Gregory Harmer, VP of HR Shared Services at CVS Health, spoke about how payroll is undergoing the same transformation as consumer behavior.
He pointed out that the rigid idea of “payday” no longer aligns with how people live. Today’s workforce doesn’t want to have to wait until the end of a pay cycle to be paid–they want on-demand pay. Harmer even predicts that “payday” will soon be replaced with one simple word: “pay.”
That’s the power of Instant’s earned wage access and pay solutions. By giving employees the ability to access a portion of their earned wages after each shift, EWA bridges the gap between work and reward—no waiting required.
Payroll Innovation, Led by EWA Providers
Before joining CVS Health, Harmer oversaw payroll operations at Amazon, a company on the leading edge of real-time pay innovation. Today, forward-thinking earned wage access providers like Instant are enabling this shift at scale. Just like next-day delivery revolutionized retail, EWA is poised to reshape compensation. At CVS Health, Harmer sees EWA as an attractive perk to recruit and retain staff.
Harmer believes the future of on-demand pay hinges on three pillars:
- Employees can access 100% of their earned wages
- Access is available instantly
- At no cost to the employee
This model isn’t just about convenience—it’s about empowering people to meet their financial needs without delay.
Why Employees Are Driving the Shift
The push toward earned wage access isn’t coming from the top down—it’s coming from employees themselves. In a labor market defined by high turnover and increasing competition, pay flexibility is becoming a differentiator.
In fact, Instant’s Wages and Wellbeing Study, featuring feedback from 1,000 frontline workers, found that 86% of employees want same-day pay.
As Patty Long from Payroll Direct at TridentCare noted during the panel, today’s employers are actively seeking earned wage access providers that offer seamless integration, compliance expertise, and minimal disruption to existing payroll systems.
That’s why many organizations are exploring complementary financial wellness solutions. In addition to EWA, employers are reviewing payroll cards for employees, which gives workers a faster, more accessible way to receive wages and manage their money, especially for those without traditional bank accounts.
The Bottom Line: Paydays Are Becoming Pay Moments
We’ve moved from shopping days to shopping moments. And we’re rapidly shifting from pay cycles to same-day pay.
In this new landscape, the ability to tap a button and access your earnings is no longer a luxury, it’s a reality. Just as consumers expect one-click checkout, employees now expect the same immediacy from their pay.
At Instant, we believe financial wellness starts with timely access to wages. That’s why we partner with employers to provide secure, compliant, and cost-effective on-demand pay solutions that meet the needs of today’s workforce.
The future of payroll isn’t two weeks away—it’s instant.
Are you ready to offer your workforce Instant Pay? Get in touch
