Clair & JMS Senior Living Case Study: Winning Back CNAs from Agencies with On-Demand Pay

In the demanding world of senior living, hiring, engaging, and retaining certified nursing assistants (CNAs) is crucial. 

JMS Senior Living, which operates 10 assisted living facilities between St. Louis, MO, and Kansas City, MO, faced the all too common hardship of having their Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) lured away by agencies who promised higher and more flexible pay.

As a result, JMS watched its CNAs quit only to be sold back to them by an agency at a higher hourly rate.

In this case study, you’ll discover how JMS Senior Living is winning back CNAs from agencies by offering our on-demand pay solution. Learn how offering on-demand pay through Clair, JMS Senior Living has not only improved the lives of their CNAs but has also gained a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top talent.

Identifying Incentives to Improve CNA Retention

"When I asked them why they would leave a full-time job here only to come back to work in the same building, 99% of them said it had to do with daily pay," shared Marcie Hill, Payroll and Benefits Specialist at JMS.

In her quest to implement an on-demand pay platform to better compete with agencies, Marcie first went with her previous provider's out-of-the-box solution. While it claimed to offer employees access to their pay on-demand, the implementation was anything but smooth.

"It was a nightmare for payroll," shared Marcie. "There was no customer support for either the employees or myself. If a new employee signed up and requested funds, it could take us anywhere from three to fourteen days to figure out where those funds went."

While this other platform promised a seamless payroll integration, it was anything but that. Marcie would have to download ten wage deduction files every pay period, distribute them to the HR managers at each of their locations, and ask each of them to upload the files to Paylocity. 

Then, when some employees would have $0 paychecks, Marcie would need to manually coordinate with the other on-demand pay platform to ensure that the deduction was taken out of the following paycheck.

Troubleshooting the Solution to Address Unique Needs

Marcie understood the importance of giving employees the ability to have flexible access to their pay and the consequences of falling short.

"People want to be paid daily," emphasized Marcie. "They want greater access to their paycheck beyond just payday, and that's crucial. We lose a significant amount of staff to agencies, and I believe it's directly tied to their daily pay offerings."

The game-changer for JMS Senior Living was Clair. Unlike the other platforms, Clair did not require employers to process manual wage deductions. Instead, employees opened a Clair Spending Account and updated their direct deposit to that account. On payday, Clair deducted the amount advanced from the employees' Spending Account, and not a cent more, thereby removing employers from the process.

Clair was a simple banking app that employees would just set as their direct deposit account on their payroll platform.

On-demand pay is becoming increasingly important for CNAs and the broader workforce. On-demand pay now plays a vital role in any competitive benefits package, especially as many workers live paycheck to paycheck. 

Unexpected expenses can cause financial chaos, and on-demand pay acts as a safety net, ensuring wages are accessible when most needed. A significant number of CNAs who switched to agencies did so because of the allure of higher wages and daily payments. For Marcie and JMS Senior Living, Clair became the trusted partner to meet these critical needs and win employees back.

Making a Transformational Impact with On-Demand Pay through Clair

Clair proved to be the perfect solution for JMS Senior Living. Today, the employees who use Clair stick around for 30% longer than those who don’t*. For Marcie, that means less time reacting to employees quitting, and more time proactively focusing on the business. 

In addition to providing employees with on-demand pay, Clair was also able to drive a significant number of employees away from paper checks and towards direct deposit.

Previously, Marcie would issue about 80 checks every pay period. Now, it's down to just under 20.

"The best part is that it does not impact my payroll," shares Marcie. "We just need to make more people aware about Clair, and I think we can get that number even lower."

The benefits offered by Clair have played a significant role in re-engaging former employees and attracting new talent. While there is the potential for wider adoption, JMS Senior Living takes an active approach to promoting the system. Through internal marketing initiatives and showcasing employee testimonials, JMS remains optimistic about the pivotal role Clair will play in their future growth and the overall satisfaction of their dedicated staff.

"Clair has been extremely positive for our company," affirmed Marcie. "In this challenging year, we must utilize it and ensure that everyone knows it's available. I firmly believe that we can retain and hire staff, and Clair will be a determining factor."

See How Clair Can Help Your Facility Boost CNA Retention

Assisted living facilities play a vital role in providing care and support to their residents, and the dedication of Certified Nursing Assistants is instrumental in ensuring their well-being. 

At Clair, we understand the challenges that assisted living facilities face in attracting and retaining talented CNAs, and we're here to offer tailored financial wellness benefits that can help boost CNA retention and improve overall employee satisfaction.

By partnering with Clair, your assisted living facility can create an environment where CNAs feel supported, empowered, and valued. Create a culture that could lead to increased job satisfaction, improved retention rates, and ultimately, better care for your residents.

Sign up for free. 

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Clair is a financial technology company, not a bank. Clair Spending is a demand deposit account established by, and the Clair Debit Card is issued by, Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC. Mastercard® and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Clair Savings Account is established by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC. Advances provided by Pathward, N.A.

While wage advances are free, certain other fees may apply depending on how users use their account. Standard data charges may apply when using the Clair app.

*Internal data pulled September 22, 2023.