Earned Wage Access Gains Popularity as Legal Guidance Lags

Earned wage access is increasingly becoming a popular benefit employers can offer to employees, even as its regulatory landscape lags behind, two attorneys said March 11.

The basic idea of EWA, that employees can access wages for work already performed, is intended to provide employees with more financial flexibility and security, according to Kathleen Caminiti, a partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP. Employers can either advance wages to employees who request it themselves or use a third party to advance payments, she said.

Employers offer EWA because employees like it, said Ellie Miller, an attorney at Fisher & Phillips LLP. ...