Union Files Complaint for Lost Wages

The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) labor union recently filed a complaint against Hackensack Meridian Health, claiming that a payroll mistake has left thousands of their members with incorrect paychecks. Some received less than they were owed, while others were not paid at all. HPAE, which represents over 2,000 workers, claims that the problem has not yet been corrected, even though it started weeks ago. They also submitted a class-action grievance with Hackensack Meridian’s corporate office. Hackensack Meridian Health encountered problems with a new payroll system, which seemed to have caused the problem. It is one of the largest employers in New Jersey with over 34,100 people.

Paycheck Problems

The HPAE complaint filed within the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development alleges that the hospital is in violation of state laws for not correctly paying their employees. A pay period from late March through early April had erroneous deductions, incorrect check amounts, and missing checks, which were not fixed within an acceptable time frame. HPAE explained that employees who experienced paycheck issues were then charged fees for not having enough money in their accounts to make automatic payments they had set up. Since many workers have health and life insurance payments deducted from their paychecks, it spiraled into a complex problem.

New Jersey state laws specify that employees must be paid their full wages twice or more each month, due in 10 working days. This deadline was not met. According to a spokesperson from Hackensack Meridian Health, the payroll issues occurred when the company tried to combine separate systems for benefits, work times, and payroll into one system. The glitch happened during the first check processing cycle, and most of the affected employees are those who work overtime, are hourly employees, and others who receive night pay differentials.

The Hospital’s Response

An email between the two parties revealed that the hospital system acknowledged that their PeopleSoft payroll system had encountered problems, and that it would be fixed within a week. The union’s complaint was filed after a week, since the employees had not received refunds.

The Senior Director of Public Relations at Hackensack Meridian Health stated that the situation has been challenging. She added that the company is committed to resolving the problem and is working toward paying the impacted employees what they are owed. She also said that they are providing extra payrolls and helping employees who are dealing with extra fees and expenses incurred. The goal is to have every affected employee made whole. Another hospital representative said that they were processing checks three times a week to ensure reconciliation.

Cherry Hill Employment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Help Employees Recover Lost Wages

When companies do not pay, their employees suffer. If you are missing earned wages or have other problems with your employer, do not hesitate to contact the experienced Cherry Hill employment lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Call us at 215-569-1999 or complete an online form for a free consultation today. Located in Pennsauken, New Jersey, we represent clients throughout South Jersey, including Cherry Hill.