More than half of working Canadians say they would struggle to pay their bills if their paycheque was delayed.
TORONTO, September 02, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Employment Hero, a global leader in employment solutions, today released new poll data with insights from over 1,000 working Canadians* on payroll practices and paycheque inaccuracies. The poll reveals that payroll errors and delays are widespread – and they’re hitting Canadian workers and businesses hard.
HALF OF WORKING CANADIANS SAY A DELAYED PAYCHEQUE WOULD LEAVE THEM STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS
The poll found that over half of working Canadians (51 per cent) say they would struggle to pay their bills if their paycheque was delayed – a sign that many are likely living paycheque to paycheque and counting on their employer to get payroll right. Alarmingly, payroll problems are all too common. In the past five years alone, 38 per cent of working Canadians have faced a paycheque inaccuracy or delay – equaling roughly 7.8 million working Canadians. Of those who have experienced issues, 62 per cent had an inaccuracy or delay with a few paycheques.
“When people don’t get paid properly or on time, it’s not just a payroll error – it’s a broken promise. In today’s economy, where every dollar counts, Canadians can’t afford to be left hanging because of outdated, unreliable systems,” says Kevin Kliman, President of Canadian Business at Employment Hero. “These findings make one thing clear: payroll isn’t just paperwork, it’s the backbone of people’s financial stability and a foundation of trust between employers and their teams.”
On the employer side, payroll errors can also have significant consequences. 74 per cent of working Canadians would feel negatively toward their employer if their paycheque was delayed. Employees are also not jumping at the opportunity to right any overages – only 55 per cent of these Canadians say they would definitely inform their employer if they were overpaid on a paycheque.
A reliable payroll system designed for the nuances of the Canadian employment landscape is critical to building and maintaining trust with employees. To foster this trust with payroll and every other key aspect of employment, Employment Hero, formerly known as Humi, is introducing a first-of-its-kind employment platform, launching today.
Employment Operating System (Employment OS) is the first employment solution in Canada to seamlessly integrate every critical employment function into a single system, including recruitment, onboarding, benefits, HR advisory, and employee wellbeing. The platform also features a Canadian-designed payroll product, built for the nuances of Canadian business to ensure accurate and timely payments.
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