For quick-serve restaurants, maintaining reliable staffing is critical. But when employees face financial challenges, unplanned absences can disrupt shifts, slow down service, and impact morale across the team. That’s the challenge R2 Restaurants faced before introducing Tapcheck.

The Challenge: Absenteeism Driven by Financial Stress

R2 Restaurants (R2) operates 11 Taco Bell franchises across East Texas. With a team of 280 employees, Director of Operations Services Cathy Remedies knew the company needed a meaningful benefit to support staff retention and reliability.
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“Our employees would frequently miss work because they didn’t have the funds to cover a flat tire, buy gas, or pay for a babysitter,” Remedies explains. These last-minute absences created stress for managers and employees, lowering productivity and adding pressure to an already fast-paced environment.

The Solution: Earned Wage Access

While exploring payroll card options, Remedies discovered Tapcheck’s earned wage access (EWA) solution. With EWA, employees can safely access a portion of their earned pay ahead of payday, giving them a low-cost alternative to payday loans or paycheck advances.

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“Tapcheck has helped us with retention. Our employees are calling out of work less because they can get the funds they need before payday to take care of whatever it is they need,” Remedies says.

Implementation was simple, thanks to Tapcheck’s API integrations with Paycor and eRestaurants. The rollout required no extra cost for R2 and no disruption to business operations.

The Results: Better Attendance and Happier Employees

In just a few months, the impact of Tapcheck was clear:

• 51% of employees registered for Tapcheck
• 31% use it every pay cycle
• $27,000 accessed per pay period on average, fully funded by Tapcheck so R2’s cash flow is unaffected

Employees now have more financial stability, and the benefits show up on the job:

• Fewer missed shifts when unexpected expenses come up
• Reduced requests for paycheck advances
• Happier, more reliable employees who feel supported

At a Glance: R2 Restaurants + Tapcheck

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Why It Matters

For quick-serve restaurants, one missed shift can ripple across the entire team. By offering Tapcheck, R2 Restaurants gave employees a reliable way to access earned pay when unexpected expenses hit. The result: fewer call-outs, less stress on managers, and a happier workforce overall.
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“Tapcheck has helped us with retention. Our employees are calling out of work less because they can get the funds they need before payday to take care of whatever it is they need.”
— Cathy Remedies, Director of Operations Services, R2 Restaurants

FAQ

How does Tapcheck reduce call-outs and missed shifts?
When employees have access to their earned pay, they can cover expenses like gas, car repairs, or childcare without missing work. That means fewer last-minute absences and more reliable staffing.
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Does Tapcheck add extra work for managers or payroll teams?
No. Tapcheck integrates directly with payroll and timekeeping systems like Paycor. Employees use the app to request funds, with no manager involvement or manual processing required.
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How quickly did employees adopt Tapcheck?
Within a few months, over half of R2’s employees registered, and nearly a third used it every pay cycle.
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What does it cost the employer?
Nothing. Tapcheck is free for employers, with no setup fees, ongoing costs, or impact on cash flow.
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What makes Tapcheck a good fit for restaurants?
High turnover and unpredictable schedules make reliable attendance critical in QSR. Offering Tapcheck helps employees feel supported and more motivated to show up.

Want to see how Tapcheck can help your business reduce call-outs and keep your team showing up strong? Schedule a free demo.

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Want a broader review of earned wage access to learn how it can impact your business? Visit our guide here.