Many employers adopt The Work Number (by Equifax) believing it will simplify employment and income verifications. It’s marketed as a fast, automated solution designed to reduce HR workload and provide instant access to employment data.
On paper, it looks efficient, modern, and cost-effective.
But in practice, many employers are discovering a different reality.
The Promise vs. The Reality
The Work Number advertises a “Pay As You Go” model, with pricing that appears straightforward, often starting around $60–$70 per report.
However, what’s not clearly communicated is that:
- The advertised pricing does not always reflect actual use cases
- Employers may not be able to complete standard employment verifications at that price point
- Customer service may redirect users to higher-cost options or different workflows
- A single verification can end up costing $100–$140+
This creates a frustrating experience where expectations set during sign-up don’t align with real-world functionality.
A Common Employer Experience
Employers often:
- Sign up to streamline verifications
- Assume basic employment verification will be simple and low-cost
- Attempt to run a verification
- Discover that the advertised pricing does not apply
- End up paying significantly more than expected
This disconnect is one of the most common complaints among HR professionals using the platform.
Why This Matters
Employment verification is a routine HR function, not a premium service.
When a company pays $100+ to confirm:
- Job title
- Dates of employment
- Salary (in some cases)
…it raises an important question:
Are we solving a problem, or creating a new expense?
For many small to mid-sized organizations, the cost outweighs the benefit.
The Bigger Issue: Loss of Control
Beyond cost, there’s another concern that often goes unnoticed:
Once implemented, companies may:
- Automatically direct all verifications to The Work Number
- Lose visibility into how often verifications occur
- Be unaware of cumulative costs
- Create friction for employees needing quick verification
In some cases, employees and third parties are forced into a paid system when a simple HR response would suffice.
What Employers Should Consider
Before continuing or implementing The Work Number, employers should evaluate:
1. Actual Verification Volume
Do you truly need automation, or are requests manageable internally?
2. Cost vs. Time Savings
Is paying $70–$140 per request more efficient than a 5-minute HR response?
3. Employee Experience
Are you making it harder or more expensive for employees to verify their own employment?
4. Alternatives
Most verifications can be handled quickly and at no cost using:
- Standard employment verification letters
- Pay stubs or W-2s
- Direct HR contact
A Simpler, More Transparent Approach
Many organizations benefit more from a straightforward internal process:
- A dedicated email (e.g., [email protected])
- A standard template for responses
- A defined turnaround time (24–48 hours)
This approach:
- Eliminates per-verification fees
- Maintains control over employee data
- Improves transparency
- Enhances employee experience
Final Thoughts
The Work Number is not inherently a bad tool. For large organizations with high verification volume, it can provide value.
But for many employers, especially small to mid-sized businesses, it introduces unexpected costs, limited flexibility, and unnecessary complexity.
The key is not to assume automation equals efficiency.
Sometimes, the most effective solution is also the simplest one.