Jaime McDougall is the Director of Marketing & Growth for Chime Enterprise, where she leads efforts to bring innovative financial wellness solutions to employers and their workforces, with a focus on helping frontline and hourly employees turn everyday work into meaningful financial progress. With a background spanning both brand and growth marketing, Jaime was part of the founding team at DailyPay and has helped scale some of the leading solutions in earned wage access and employee engagement, later holding leadership roles at Salt Labs and Chime Enterprise. She writes about financial wellness and the future of HR, sharing perspectives on how employers can build more supportive, flexible, and empowering workplaces grounded in the belief that when employees feel financially secure, they’re better able to thrive—at work and beyond.
When we think about financial benefits at work, 401(k) plans are often considered the gold standard, right alongside health insurance. They’re widely recognized, heavily promoted, and often seen as a signal of a “real” job with long-term value. But there’s a catch: 401(k)s are often reserved for salaried employees.
For the 56% of American workers who are hourly, this kind of benefit may be out of reach — either because it’s not offered at all, or because the job turnover and unpredictable schedules common in hourly roles make it nearly impossible to participate meaningfully. These workers aren’t opting out — they’re being left out.
And while 401(k)s are designed for long-term retirement savings, most hourly workers need help with short-term financial survival, not just far-off planning. That’s why it’s time to rethink what financial wellness really means — and who it’s built for.
Why don’t traditional financial wellness programs work for hourly workers?
Hourly workers face a set of financial challenges that make traditional benefits less useful:
Pay that fluctuates week to week
No access to savings or retirement programs
Difficulty covering surprise costs, like car repairs or medical bills
Short job tenure that makes it hard to qualify for long-term benefits
37% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense without borrowing or selling something. In fact, 69% of workers are not financially healthy, which can make it difficult to fund contributions for traditional financial benefits like 401(k) plans. Many of these workers struggle with basic needs like paying bills on time and avoiding overdraft fees.
When workers don’t feel financially secure, they’re more stressed, less focused, and more likely to leave.
What do hourly workers actually want from financial wellness benefits?
Hourly workers aren’t asking for flashy perks. They want practical, everyday tools that help them get by and build stability. Top needs include:
Early direct deposit to avoid late fees or payday loans
Emergency savings to handle unexpected expenses
Credit-building tools that don’t require taking on new debt
Overdraft protection to help prevent fees when money’s tight
Simple, intuitive financial tools that they can start using right away
Employee rewards that recognize their time and loyalty — not just traditional performance metrics
Ready to support your team? Schedule a demo to see the impact that Chime Workplace can make on your workforce.
FAQs
How does Chime Workplace™ help hourly workers build real financial stability?
Chime Workplace gives your team the tools they need to build financial confidence and long-term success, starting on day one.
How can employees access their earned pay with no fees?
With Chime’s MyPay at WorkTM, employees can access their earned wages instantly, with no fees.1 That can help workers avoid overdraft fees and other costly financial products.
Can employees get paid early to avoid late fees?
Employees can get their pay up to two days early2 with direct deposit. That extra flexibility can be the difference between covering a bill and falling behind.
How does Chime help avoid overdraft fees?
Chime provides fee-free overdraft coverage,3 helping workers avoid costly fees when they’re in a pinch.
Is it easy to build emergency savings?
Chime makes it easy to set aside small amounts from each paycheck to place into a high-yield savings account.4 Even modest savings can offer real peace of mind.
What credit-building tools are available without taking on debt?
Employees can build credit5 through everyday purchases and on-time rent payments, all without needing to take on debt.
Can employees earn rewards just for working?
With Salt™, employees earn points for each hour worked. These rewards can be saved or redeemed for things they care about, transforming work into long-term value.
Are there minimum balance fees or monthly costs?
Chime accounts come with no monthly fees and no minimum balances. More of their money stays with them.
How can you help your hourly team feel more financially confident?
Hourly workers deserve benefits that meet their needs. Chime Workplace provides accessible, no-cost tools that reduce financial stress, boost retention, and help employees progress from just getting by to getting ahead.
Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.
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Opinions, advice, services, or other information or content expressed or contributed here by customers, users, or others, are those of the respective author(s) or contributor(s) and do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. (“Banks”). Banks are not responsible for the accuracy of any content provided by author(s) or contributor(s).
Chime Workplace offered by Chime. Banking services provided by Chime's bank partners, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A
MyPay at Work™ provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.. MyPay at Work services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451). Certain optional fees apply to services. See Chime.com/policies for more information.
1
Certain optional fees apply to services. See Chime.com/policies for more information.
Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
3
SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, "SpotMe"). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions.
4
Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.
5
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions.
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