How To Ask For A Salary Advance (With Examples)

Even when facing financial difficulties, many individuals are hesitant to take out bank loans due to bad credit or the associated risks. In such situations, asking your boss for a salary advance may be a fitting alternative.

In this article, we’ll discuss what you should consider before asking for a salary advance. We’ll also explain how to professionally do so, as well as provide you with a sample salary advance request letter to help you write your own.

Key Takeaways:

• Salary advances are essentially loans made against your future earnings, such as reduced future wages so you can bounce back from a financial rough patch without trapping yourself with loans that grow interest over time.

• When writing your letter you should include the reason for the advancement, how much money you need, and how you intend to repay the loan.

• Before asking for a salary advancement, consider you options on getting the money another way.

How to Ask for a Salary Advance

Asking your supervisor for a pay advance should always be done professionally and with some formality.

Unless you’re working at a tiny business with a boss who you’re close friends with, this isn’t a topic you should ever bring up in casual conversation.

The most professional ways of asking for a pay advance are:

1. Schedule a meeting. Before the meeting, prepare documentation and answers to likely questions. You’ll need to convey a compelling reason for obtaining the salary advance and accompanying evidence.

   Email your supervisor a concise meeting request that includes:

   • Your reason for requesting a meeting.

   • The meeting’s expected length of time.

   • Acknowledgement of their busy schedule.

2. Write a detailed request letter. Draft a detailed salary advance request letter to your supervisor indicating:

   • The specific reason for requesting the advance.

   • Exactly how much money you need.

   • How you intend to repay the full amount.

   • How you plan on making your request a one-time event.

   • Courteous language and tone throughout.

3. Fill out an HR form. Some companies have a standardized process for requesting a salary advance.

   Ask the human resources department if there are any specific request forms you need to fill out or system you need to go through.

4. Get any agreement in writing. After you and your employer agree on terms of the loan, make sure you get the agreement and repayment plan in writing. This is important incase of any miscommunication.

5. Send a thank you letter. After receiving the salary advancement you should send a thank you to your manager. They are not required to give you a salary advance and it would show your appreciation for what they did for you.

Salary Advance Email Template and Examples

Before we provide you with sample emails to request a salary advance or schedule a meeting to discuss such a request, you should understand how to write an email header.

The practice is becoming less common, but is still used when the email requires an especially formal and polite tone.

1. Salary Advance Request Email Template

   Dave Smith
   [Employee name]
   [Employee address]
   [City, state, zip code]

   [Current date]

   [Employer’s name]
   [Employer address]
   [City, state, zip code]

   I write this email to request a meeting with you, as early as [date of meeting], to discuss the possibility of receiving a salary advance to help me pay for [reason for advance] that I incurred last month.

   I’m aware of your extremely busy schedule, so I will only take up 30 minutes of your time. If next week isn’t a great time for you, just let me know, and I’ll be willing to adjust.

   Feel free to let me know of any other concerns or questions you may have, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

   Thank you, as always, for your time and consideration.

   Sincerely,

   [Employee name]
   [Employee job title]

2. Meeting Scheduling Email Example

   Dave Smith
   10 Roquefort Street
   Detroit, MI 28282

   10 July 2020

   CompanyX
   51 Brie Rd
   Phoenix, AZ 48484

   Dear John Cooper,

   I write this email to request a meeting with you, as early as next week if possible, to discuss the possibility of receiving a salary advance to help me pay for emergency medical bills that I incurred last month.

   I’m aware of your extremely busy schedule, so I will only take up 30 minutes of your time. If next week isn’t a great time for you, just let me know, and I’ll be willing to adjust.

   Feel free to let me know of any other concerns or questions you may have, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

   Thank you, as always, for your time and consideration.

   Sincerely,

   Dave Smith
   Marketing and Sales

3. Salary Advance Request Email Example

   Dave Smith
   10 Roquefort Street
   Detroit, MI 28282

   10 July 2020

   CompanyX
   51 Brie Rd
   Phoenix, AZ 48484

   Dear John Cooper,

   I write this email to formally request a loan of $2000 to be repaid with deductions from earnings each month. I plan on paying the loan in its entirety within six months. My purpose for requesting this loan is to pay for critical repairs to my home.

   After a plumbing disaster, my entire lower floor and bedroom were flooded and damaged beyond repair. My contractor provided me with an estimate of $2000 to return the floor to a liveable condition.

   I intend on repaying the loan through installments to be deducted from my salary each month until the entire loan is paid. You can reach me at my phone number 555 222 3333 or email address dSmith@gmail.com to discuss the terms of the loan.

   If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to let me know.

   Thank you for your time and for considering my emergency situation.

   Sincerely,

   Dave Smith

What to Consider Before Asking for a Salary Advance

You shouldn’t treat salary advances as a magic solution to solve all your financial troubles. Even when your company allows pay advances, they may limit the amount to a certain cap. Many state and federal regulations make it very difficult for payroll administrators in organizations to offer salary advances.

If you work in the public sector, there are very few locations where the practice is allowed. Before you go to your supervisor asking for one, you should do the following:

1. Research your employer’s policies. The first step to asking for a pay advance is to make sure you’re even allowed to do so. Many companies strictly prohibit any adjustments to their normal payroll process.

   Other companies are only willing to provide salary advances under exceptional circumstances. These exceptions often include:

   • Medical emergencies. If you need to pay for critical surgeries or treatments.

   • Bereavement costs. Your spouse or close family member has died, and you need to pay for the funeral or travel costs.

   • Crucial home repairs Perhaps a natural disaster has rendered your home unlivable and unable to focus on work.

   If you can’t find these policies in your employee handbook, then reach out to the human resources department.

2. Assess your options. Carefully think over your situation and weigh your available options before making any decisions. If your financial hurdle is only temporary, some alternative options may be to:

   • Sell unneeded possessions. Look around the house to see if you have any unused or forgotten items that you could sell for some extra cash.

   • Ask your family/friends. Asking your family or friends for a loan is often a terrible idea for a variety of reasons.

     However, if your current financial troubles aren’t a recurring event and you only need a small amount of money, asking for help may not be a big deal at all.

   • Research different banks and credit unions. Get an idea of the terms that different lenders are willing to offer you. If you can negotiate low-interest payments, taking out a bank loan may be easier than asking your boss for a salary advance.

   • Get a second job. This will depend on factors such as how much money you need and how much extra time you have in your schedule.

     Some job categories are perfect for obtaining a quick boost in cash, such as temp jobs or working for rideshare apps.

3. Consider the effect on your working relationship with your employer. This aspect is more important to consider when you’re working for a small employer. If you’re working at a business that staffs only a few people, your relationship with your boss may be close to a friendship.

   • Being indebted to them through a pay advance may change the dynamic of that relationship, as well as the work environment and expectations.

   • For example, there may be an implied expectation that you put in extra time or effort at work. Even though you’ll eventually pay back that salary advance, it’s still mutually understood that they’ve done you a favor.

   • Asking for a salary advance will send an especially red flag if you’re a new hire at a company.

   • It’s prudent to at least think about this factor and consider if you’re okay with it.

4. Create a repayment plan. Unless your company has a standardized process for offering salary advances, it’s up to you to come up with one and prove to your boss that you’ve thought through how you’re going to repay the loan.

   • Make sure that your payment plan will not last longer than a year. Employers will reject a request for a pay advance if they won’t receive the full amount back for a considerable length of time.

   • You should also make sure that your payment plan is sustainable. If you deduct too much money from your paycheck, you may not be able to meet monthly living expenses.

   • Throwing out a large figure when suggesting how much your boss should deduct from your pay will only lead to them being skeptical and thinking that maybe you haven’t given the plan much thought.

5. Prepare documentation to prove your circumstances. Your employer may ask you to verify that your reasons for requesting a salary advance are genuine.

   In the case of emergency home repairs, this might take the form of an invoice or quote describing the estimated costs. Some employers may even request a broad review of your finances.

Salary Advance Request FAQs

1. Do I need a reason to ask for a salary advance?

   Yes, you generally need a reason to ask for a salary advance. Reasons for a salary advance might include medical emergencies, bereavement, or other sudden large expenses.

2. What is the downside of asking for a salary advance?

   The downside of asking for a salary advance is that you are exchanging more immediate payment for lower payment in the future. A salary advance is essentially a loan made to you by your employer, so you still have to “pay back” that loan by receiving less payment in the future.

   Depending on the company and its policies, you might also have to pay interest on a salary advance.

3. Do I need to make a salary advance request in writing?

   Yes, it is best to make a salary advance request in writing. As with all business communications, you should document as much as possible when requesting a salary advance. This will allow you to present your reasons clearly, as well as get your supervisor’s response in writing.

   Some companies may also have formal processes or paperwork to fill out when requesting a salary advance, so be sure to research your company’s policies.

Final Thoughts

You should always weigh your options and run the numbers carefully when considering whether to ask for an advance on your salary.

If you do decide to ask for a salary advance, be sure to go about the process as professionally as possible by scheduling a meeting with your supervisor and preparing any necessary documentation in advance. Your company may also allow you to fill out a standardized form to request a salary advance, so be sure to research your company’s policies.

References

1. CA.gov Department of Human Resources – Salary Advance (Hardship)

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.