A labor union is asking the state of New Jersey to probe payroll errors at Edison-based Hackensack Meridian Health, according to NJ.com.
The Health Professionals and Allied Employees — which represents 2,600 Hackensack Meridian hospital and nursing home employees in the state — filed a complaint April 24 with the state labor department.
Union officials say Hackensack Meridian employees have been improperly paid due to problems with the health system's new payroll system, NJ.com reports.
Union spokesperson Bridget Devane told NJ.com that employees received incorrect paychecks twice in April, and the payroll errors primarily affect hourly workers, those who work overtime or receive a night pay differential. It was unclear how many employees have been affected.
"When checks did not come through, [workers] got charged fees," union president Kendra McCann told NJ.com.
The errors affected "how health insurance has been taken out of pay, it affected life insurance payments — a couple people lost life insurance policies. It has spiraled into so many different directions and caused so many problems," she added. "Hackensack Meridian has to take responsibility."
Hackensack Meridian spokesperson Nancy Radwin told the Asbury Park Press that there have been some challenges while the organization consolidates multiple payroll systems into one new PeopleSoft system for payroll, scheduling, timekeeping and absence management.
She said Hackensack Meridian is trying to fix problems as soon as possible, one employee at a time.
"We are asking everyone to carefully review their statements and report any discrepancies or concerns. We are prepared to run another off-cycle payroll as needed. Our goal is to make sure every team member is made whole and ensuring any expenses or fees incurred as a result of incomplete funds are addressed," said Ms. Radwin.
The union's complaint includes an April 15 email exchange in which Hackensack Meridian acknowledged the payroll issues and said more payroll runs would be scheduled to make corrections, according to NJ.com.
Union members reported that they had not received refunds as of April 24, which prompted the union complaint, Ms. Devane said.
Hackensack Meridian has 6,500 physicians and 17 hospitals.
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