No faith in QH's payroll system

Published: 16 June 2010

This week will mark the seventh pay run under Queensland Health’s new payroll system. It is a debacle of monumental proportions.

Like the six pay runs that have preceded this one, the QNU has no faith whatsoever that nurses and midwives will be paid correctly.

Every day we take calls from justifiably frustrated and distressed members who have been paid incorrectly or haven’t been paid key entitlements like superannuation. Some members aren’t accruing annual leave and days off, while others haven’t been paid at all.

There seems to be no consistency with the errors being made, nor are there any clear solutions as to how to fix them.

Now after three long months since the new system was introduced, it’s time for Queensland Health to question whether their new multi-million dollar system is at all capable of dealing with the complexities and constantly changing nature of health pay.

Late last month we sought the assistance of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) to force some assurances from Queensland Health around their new system.

There have now been two long hearings, and there was slow progress on Queensland Health’s part. As I write this article, our next meeting with the QIRC is set for 17 June and we are hopeful that Queensland Health will be able to provide much needed advice on end of year taxation issues as well as commitments on other matters we have identified.

This latest conference was the fourth time we have sought the assistance of the QIRC since the payroll debacle started in March. The Commissioner, as the independent umpire, was valuable in ensuring that the parties remained focused. Unfortunately, however, as this was such a unique and extraordinary event, the usual remedies the QIRC would impose did not apply here.

Similarly, it quickly became apparent to QNU members that industrial strike action was not the solution. How would walking off the job fix a broken system any quicker or make payroll staff work any harder to give you your pay? If we believed there was any chance industrial action would in any way help members during this pay debacle we would not hesitate to use our full power and strength to protect those who undertook it. That said, we will not rule out recommending stronger industrial action around this issue in the future, should we believe it could make a difference.

This is a systems issue which is the result of a sequence of human errors—of poor consultation, planning and a lack of protocols. It is fundamentally a failure of risk management and culture. There were no system checks and balances taken before the system was rolled out to ensure it would work. But now that we’re in this mess, we remain firmly focused on using every avenue available to us to ensure you receive the wages and entitlements you are legally owed.

Recently we coordinated a series of meetings between the Deputy Premier and Nurse Unit Managers. It is very clear that it is only because of the hard work and commitment of these NUMs and other line managers that the payroll system is working at all. But NUMs can’t continue propping the system up—it is simply not sustainable for them personally, and for the clinical services they are supposed to be providing. With ’flu season fast approaching something has to give.

Unfortunately, it seems Queensland Health has missed this point completely. From all accounts they have no idea when the system will be fixed, or if it will be fixed at all. We must send a strong message to them that they cannot continue to rely on the goodwill of NUMs and other nurses and midwives to keep this system going. We also must demonstrate to the government the unprecedented nature of this disaster. See page 10 for things you can do to tell them how you feel.

I encourage all nurses and midwives who have a workload issue to report it. Complete a QNU workload reporting form and if necessary, use the processes identified in the BPF to take action on your workload issue. Similarly nurses and midwives should also claim for any overtime that is worked—we know many are working long hours that aren’t being reported—keeep a record of it to ensure you eventually get paid.

It is also critical that you keep an accurate record of the hours you have worked and the allowances and entitlements you should have received since the introduction of the new payroll system. The QNU has developed a nurse/midwife pay record to ensure you have received the correct wages and entitlements or are reimbursed what you are legally owed.

We have also sought advice from BDO (accountants) about potential tax implications associated with the new system. You can download your copy of Queensland Health payroll implications or if you do not have internet access you can call our information hotline on 3840 1419 or toll free on 1800 177 273 to request your copy.

We must be confident that the payroll system now in place is sustainable. We don’t believe that Queensland Health currently knows the answer. Hopefully, with the help of the QIRC they can give us one soon.

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