Why We're Giving Security Officers Access to Their Pay as They Earn It
Introducing On-Demand Pay (a new financial wellness benefit) included free with Belfry, powered by our partners at Clair.
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The Problem We Can't Ignore
Run a security company long enough and you'll hear the same story over and over.
An officer calls in sick, or just doesn't show, two days before payday. A promising candidate accepts an offer somewhere else, citing pay. A solid, experienced guard quietly leaves after three years for a competitor offering an extra dollar an hour. When you dig into the root cause, it's rarely about the job itself. More often, it's about money and timing.
78% of U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck1. In an industry where most officers are hourly, paid bi-weekly, and working physically demanding overnight shifts, that gap between payday and a car repair bill or an overdue utility payment doesn't just cause stress, it drives decisions. Officers leave for jobs that feel more financially stable. They pick up side work that competes with your schedule. They ask supervisors for cash advances, putting everyone in an uncomfortable position.
This is a problem Belfry has been thinking about for a long time. And today, we're doing something about it.
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Introducing On-Demand Pay, Powered by Clair
Starting May 11, 2026, all Belfry customers will have access to On-Demand Pay, an earned wage access (EWA) benefit that lets eligible employees access a portion of wages they've already earned, before payday arrives. The service is powered by Clair, a financial technology company dedicated to breaking the traditional pay cycle, with all advances originated by Clair's banking partner, Pathward®, N.A.
On-Demand Pay is included free with every Belfry subscription. There is nothing to set up, no changes to your payroll, and no administrative work required from you or your team.
"We built Belfry to provide security operators with all the tools they need to manage their business in one place. Despite On-Demand Pay not being a required part of running a security guard firm today, we have heard the customer feedback, stating the need for this capability; and we believe that employers providing access to earned wages for their workforce also allows them to remain more competitive when hiring and retaining talent. " — Jordan Wallach, Co-Founder & CEO at Belfry
How It Works: The How-To Guide
You don't need to do anything to activate On-Demand Pay for your team. The benefit is automatically available to your eligible employees through the Belfry app starting May 11th.
A few things worth knowing:
- Your payroll process does not change. Clair handles advances independently through Pathward, N.A. You are never responsible for funding advances or collecting repayments — even if an employee leaves.
- You are not notified when individual employees take or repay advances. The benefit is private.
- You can opt out at any time. But we encourage you to give it a chance; the data on employee retention is compelling.
If you're an hourly or salaried non-admin employee on Belfry, here's how to get started:
Step 1: Open the Belfry app (make sure you’re on the latest version; 2.7). Look for the On-Demand Pay section, with the Clair logo, on your Profile tab.
Step 2: Complete onboarding. Verify your information in the app matches what is on your ID. Then, review the terms and agreements.
Step 3: Check your eligibility. You must be over 18, a U.S. resident in a state where Clair operates, actively employed, and receiving pay via direct deposit.
Step 4: See what's available. Your available advance amount increases as you work more hours in the pay cycle, up to your pay cycle limit. Check back daily if needed.
Step 5: Choose your speed. Standard advances arrive within 1–3 business days at no cost. Instant transfers to your debit card typically arrive within seconds for a flat $4.99 fee.2
Step 6: Repayment is automatic. Your advance is repaid automatically. You can also repay early through the dashboard. No late fees, no credit check, no impact on your credit score.
The Business Case: Why This Matters for Your Company
We know security operators are under pressure from every direction… rising labor costs, competition from nationals with deeper pockets, and clients who expect more for less. Financial wellness benefits used to be something only the Allied Universals of the world could offer. That changes today.
Here's what the data shows. A Clair impact study of 79,000 workers found that employees who use earned wage access:
- Stay at their jobs longer
- Pick up more open shifts
- Report lower levels of financial stress
In an industry where the average guard company operates on 5–8% operating margins, and where turnover and unfilled shifts directly cost money, retention isn't a soft metric, it's the bottom line.
On-Demand Pay won't solve every recruitment or retention challenge. But offering a concrete financial benefit, one that competitors likely don't offer, gives your company a real edge when candidates are weighing their options.
What's Next
On-Demand Pay is live for all Belfry customers as of May 11, 2026. Your employees will see it in the Belfry app when they log in.
If you have questions, you can learn more through the On-Demand Pay help section in Belfry. For support with On-Demand Pay accounts, employees can reach Clair Support directly via Settings > Support in the app.
We're proud to be building a platform that doesn't just help security companies run their operations but helps them build better businesses and better workplaces. On-Demand Pay is one more step in that direction.
All Advances are originated by Pathward®, N.A. All Advances are subject to eligibility criteria and application review. Terms and conditions apply.
1Forbes, “78% of Workers Live Paycheck to Paycheck,” Zack Friedman, January 11, 2019.
2Instant Transfers typically occur in seconds but may take up to 30 minutes. A $4.99 instant transfer fee applies and is deducted from the Advance at disbursement.
