As we wrap up another year, we’re reflecting on the range of workforce insights and data we uncovered in 2024. This year’s top-performing blogs highlight the growth of innovative sub-industries, like home healthcare, and sought to answer some of your most pressing questions, like how to pay independent contractors, or how to solve turnover in industries like hospitality and beyond. Check out what our most popular blogs reveal about where the world of work is headed—and what it means for businesses and workers alike. ‍

1. Can You Pay Independent Contractors in Cash?

There are more independent contractors than ever before; recent data points to 59 million Americans participating in freelance or gig work—which is 36% of the total American workforce. 

Paying independent contractors correctly is crucial to both staying compliant and providing a competitive experience that builds loyalty and helps you scale your platform. Though it’s not illegal to pay 1099 workers in cash, it’s not ideal for several reasons, including being inefficient and not providing a clear audit trail for payments. It’s also not the preferred method of payment for independent contractors these days. Which brings us to our second most viewed blog of 2024…‍

2. The Best Way to Pay Independent Contractors

From cash and P2P apps to ACH and fast, digital payments, we examine four of the most popular methods for paying independent contractors in this piece. From cash—which can leave you without an audit trail for payments—to P2P apps and ACH payments, we explore the slow, inefficient ways you may be paying gig workers. Fast, digital payments, on the other hand, allow you to quickly issue funds to contractors—nights, weekends, and holidays included. ‍

3. How Technology is Shaping Home Healthcare

The healthcare industry has seen enormous changes over the past several years, particularly in a post-pandemic landscape. The home healthcare market in particular is poised for enormous growth,  projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.48% to reach $253.4 billion in revenue by 2030. This blog breaks down the biggest tech trends in the industry and how they’re changing the face of home healthcare for good. 

4. Unexpected Industries Experiencing High Turnover 

In 2024, we saw lots of headlines about high turnover in industries like healthcare and hospitality. But we wanted to take a closer look at the somewhat unexpected industries where turnover was shockingly high. These included fields such as home services, security, and manufacturing. The data was revealing: for instance, we learned that the average security firm experiences a complete turnover of its workforce every 12 months, highlighting the need to offer competitive benefits to these workers in hopes of lowering churn.

5. 4 of the Biggest Challenges in Hospitality–and How to Tackle Them 

Perhaps more than any other sector, the hospitality industry has had to contend with a challenging few years. Dealing with issues like staffing shortages, changing consumer expectations, sky-high operating costs, and outdated processes can all make life for a GM or Operator extremely stressful. 

Staffing shortages in particular can have a domino effect on your entire business. For example, a study showed that staff turnover can cost hospitality businesses an average of $5,864 per employee. Turnover doesn’t just cost your business financially, but it can lower morale and customer service may suffer as a result, too. 

Finding fast, flexible pay options can go a long way in delivering a better day-to-day experience for your staff—even boosting retention. 

Here’s to another great year of learning about the latest insights from the world of work and payments—and to helping businesses like yours thrive in these ever-changing times. 

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