Big Lots to offer on-demand pay to attract, keep workers

Big Lots is trying something new to enhance its employee recruiting and retention efforts.

The discounter is teaming up with DailyPay to offer Big Lots' 35,000 store and distribution center employees instant access to earned income. The DailyPay platform enables employees to access or save their pay as they earn it, without having to wait for a traditional payday.

Big Lots is rolling out on-demand pay as it looks to hire 15,000 employees to accommodate holiday demand. The retailer is holding national hiring events on Tuesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 30 at its 1,421 stores across the country. (Applicants can also apply online.) Both full-time and part-time positions are available.

Big Lots is ramping up for the holidays amid a severe labor shortage that has seen retailers across the board offer a variety of incentives — from sign-on bonuses to extra pay — to attract workers. It also comes on the heels of a survey that found that burnout is causing frontline workers — particularly those in the retail and grocery industries — to leave their job.

"Big Lots is hands-down a great place to work," said Bruce Thorn, CEO and president, Big Lots. "We offer an outstanding program of perks including a 30% store discount plus additional discounts on cell services, tickets, computers and more. And now our team members will have the ability to access their accrued pay immediately via DailyPay.”