New Program Gives University Employees Early Access to Pay

Earned Wage Access, which is already available for health system employees, can help staff and faculty manage unexpected expenses

An aerial shot of Duke's campus.

Starting March 25, Duke University employees can get early access to a portion of their earned wages, if needed, outside of the standard pay cycle through the new Earned Wage Access program.

Already available to Duke University Health System employees, Earned Wage Access (EWA) can help employees who encounter emergencies, unexpected expenses or bills that don’t line up with pay periods. Sometimes referred to as pay flexibility, early, instant or on-demand pay, EWA is not a loan, but a way for employees to gain access to portions of their paycheck which they’ve already earned.

Duke has partnered with industry leaders to offer this program through the DailyPay or Wisely mobile apps. Duke employees who enroll can access their pay in advance through the DailyPay or myWisely app, both available for download at no cost from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Each app offers distinct features to employees, and the two options provide employees with a choice based on how often they want to access their pay.

DailyPay offers multiple transfer options, and Wisely doesn’t require users to have a bank account and can put earned wages into a Wisely account connected to a debit card.

Once an employee is enrolled in either DailyPay or Wisely, they can take advantage of the earned wages that will be sent to the bank account or debit card designated during the enrollment process. The payroll advance through EWA for the pay period will be deducted from the net pay on the next scheduled payday.

The EWA service is available to monthly and bi-weekly employees who earn less than $200,000 annually. Graduate and undergraduate student employees are not currently eligible to participate.

“We live in a world that requires more flexibility to address emerging needs and changing circumstances,” said Antwan Lofton, Vice President for Duke Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer. “This program is another way we are demonstrating Duke’s commitment to support our employees.”

Additional information, including presentations, videos, an FAQ, reference guides, and other support materials can be found on the Duke Corporate Payroll website.

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