“Wagestream has been an invaluable tool for our employees, the minimal extra work required on our end and the high level of automation make it a seamless solution. Most importantly, it’s helping our staff manage their finances with confidence.”

About Melinda Salinas: 

Melinda Salinas brought her expertise in client relations and operational excellence to Harlandale ISD, where she played a critical role in improving workforce processes. Focusing on staffing and efficiency, she introduced strategic solutions to enhance employee engagement and streamline operations- supporting Harlandale's mission to foster a productive work environment. 

Known for her dedication to community and client success, Melinda’s work positively impacted hiring, retention, and employee satisfaction across the district. These efforts helped align workforce practices with organizational goals for long-term growth and stability.

Introduction
Harlandale Independent School District (ISD) is a public school district serving a diverse workforce, including both hourly and salaried employees such as teachers, sanitary staff, and cafeteria personnel. Like many organizations, Harlandale ISD faced challenges in addressing employees' financial wellness, especially when it came to requests for pay advances. This is where the district’s needs with their existing payroll system became apparent. 

As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing employee benefits and supporting staff retention, Harlandale ISD explored alternative solutions to improve financial flexibility for its employees. This is where Wagestream came into conversations with Harlandale ISD.

Challenge: Addressing Employee Requests for Financial Support
Harlandale ISD regularly received requests from employees for pay advances, which the district's payroll system could not accommodate. This created a gap in its ability to offer financial support during times of need, potentially leading to increased employee financial stress. Furthermore, the district was looking for innovative ways to improve employee satisfaction and retention, particularly among younger teachers who valued flexibility and modern financial benefits. Harlandale ISD sought a solution that would not only provide emergency financial support but also offer comprehensive tools to encourage better financial wellbeing amongst the staff.

Solution: Implementing Wagestream’s Financial Wellbeing Platform
Harlandale ISD discovered Wagestream’s financial wellbeing platform at a conference attended by Melinda, the district’s HR leader. She immediately recognized the potential of Wagestream’s on-demand pay system to meet the district’s needs. Following the conference, Melinda contacted Wagestream to discuss how Wagestream could help employees gain more control over their financial lives.

“We had no idea such a benefit existed, but as soon as I learned about Wagestream, I knew it could be a game-changer for our staff,” Melinda shared. The district’s frequent pay advance requests made Wagestream an ideal partner to offer employees an accessible, user-friendly benefit that was otherwise unavailable. 

Implementation: A Smooth Transition to Financial Flexibility
Harlandale ISD moved forward with Wagestream as part of their employee benefits program. Melinda led the project for the district’s human resources department and was impressed by Wagestream’s commitment to supporting a seamless transition. She worked closely with Wagestream’s Client Implementation and Client Success Team who provided responsive, real-time support.

A critical component of Harlandale's implementation was partnering Wagestream with its IT organization to ensure that payroll data feeds and uploads went smoothly. Melinda noted that the setup process, which they had initially anticipated being too time-consuming, turned out to be only a small investment of a few hours. As of today, over 200 employees have signed up for Wagestream, with more joining as they learn about the program's benefits.

“We expected the system to require significant time and effort, but with Wagestream’s support, it was surprisingly easy to implement,” Melinda remarked. 

Onboarding: Engaging and Empowering Employees
Melinda credited Wagestream’s one-on-one support for ensuring employees felt comfortable using the system. To promote Wagestream, Harlandale ISD utilized a multi-channel approach, including flyers, videos, and personal outreach, which contributed to widespread awareness of the program. Managers were fully armed with everything they needed to ensure every layer of the organization knew how to make the launch of Wagestream as successful as possible

Financial Benefits: Supporting Employees in Emergencies and Beyond
Once live, Wagestream’s financial wellbeing toolkit proved to be a valuable resource for Harlandale ISD employees. Melinda notes that Harlandale's staff has greater financial flexibility, whether it's related to emergency situations or personal expenses.

“Wagestream provides peace of mind for our employees,” Melinda said. “It’s more than just emergency support—it allows them to use their earned money when they need it, without worrying about payday.” 

This flexibility helps reduce financial stress among employees, empowering them to manage their personal finances more effectively and avoid high-interest loans or credit card debt. This not only helped the employees of Harlandale take control of their financial lives, but allowed them to bring their best selves to work, increasing productivity and retention within Harlandale’s workforce. 

Wagestream not only serves as a safety net during emergencies but also allows Harlandale’s employees to treat themselves with money they’ve already earned, which can have a positive psychological impact on financial wellbeing. Wagestream’s approach encourages responsible financial management, combatting the stigma that can sometimes be associated with using other pay advance systems Through features such as the control center, financial education resources, savings, and more, Harlandale’s employees are encouraged to not only save better, but learn to be more financially confident. 

Retention and Recruitment: A Key Differentiator
Wagestream’s financial wellbeing platform also played a role in Harlandale ISD’s employee retention and recruitment strategies. As younger generations of professionals entered the workforce, financial flexibility became a key benefit that attracted and retained talent. Melinda points out that younger professionals, in particular, were enthusiastic about the opportunity to access earned wages ahead of payday, and the district saw increased morale as a result.

In addition to its impact on individual employees, Wagestream’s savings feature helped many staff members avoid credit card debt for major expenses, such as vacations or holiday shopping. Melinda noted that by using the app’s savings function, employees were able to set aside funds for planned events, helping them stay financially secure.

Conclusion: A Lasting Impact on Employee Financial Wellbeing
For Harlandale ISD, Wagestream’s financial wellbeing platform has transformed the way the district supports its employees. By offering a flexible, user-friendly benefit, the district has seen improvements in employee morale, financial security, and retention. Moving forward, Melinda plans to continue leveraging the many features the Wagestream platform has to offer, such as in-app savings, flexible pay, shift tracking, and more.

“The team at Wagestream is incredibly responsive and always willing to help,” Melinda said. “Their personal communication and immediate feedback have been key to the success of this benefit.”