Give Florida workers access money on their own terms

Being a new mother was an incredible journey full of joy, love and a new sense of financial responsibility. Since welcoming my 7 month old son, I have been more careful about managing my finances. I carefully budget, plan my future, and prioritize my savings.

One of the biggest lessons I learned while working at Ulta Beauty, a cosmetics store chain, is that financial security isn’t just how much you make. It’s about giving Florida workers control when they have access to the money you already worked for.

Here in Florida, that control has never been more important. Costs are rising all over the world. Homes, groceries and childcare currently averages over $12,600 a year for toddlers. Even if Florida’s minimum wage increases to $15 an hour by 2026, it’s not just financial stability. There are also smarter financial tools that will help workers manage their income on their own terms. The way we make money has changed, but for too long our payment methods remained the same. It’s starting to shift.

The new financial tools are helping employees access their pay faster. This innovation shapes the way people manage their finances, gives customers access to revenues and manages payroll schedules. For me, this flexibility is not about scrambling to achieve my goals, but about making smarter financial decisions. Once you have access to your salary earlier, you can spend more money on savings and take advantage of the opportunity to pay off your debts before the interest sums up, avoiding unnecessary fees and penalties. Rather than waiting for my bank to process the deposits on their schedule, it can move the money when it works best for me.

Access to wages before payday has become more common, and Florida lawmakers are beginning to realize its importance. Early pay access was transparent, fair and had the driving force to make it accessible to more people. That’s an important step because workers don’t have to jump over the hoops or pay excessive fees to make their money faster.

The old system of waiting for payday is outdated. The future of work is flexible, and our financial system is flexible. As our economy continues to evolve, we need financial tools that allow workers to save, invest and plan for their future on their own terms. In a world full of uncertainty, controlling your own hard-earned money should not be one of them.

Arianna Toro is the operations manager for Ulta Beauty and currently lives in Odessa with her seven-month-old son.