[Canada] Unions say Saskatchewan pay system shorted healthcare workers thousands of dollars

In Canada, a public employees' union has raised concerns over healthcare workers’ experiences receiving their pay and highlighted a system that it says is problematic, HRD reports.

According to reporting from Global News, the issue stems from AIMS payroll software, which the provincial government relaunched for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) two months ago.

Bashir Jalloh - Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 5430 health service providers president - said, “Our members are missing hundreds, even upwards of a thousand dollars in some cases, on their paycheques, and that is unacceptable.

“The system is set up in such a way that when there’s a problem with your pay, you create a ticket.

“Sometimes they respond - but it’s usually two weeks, three weeks and people are not getting paid and they’re not getting any response. There is a real apprehension from our members.”

Launched in 2021 to manage payroll, scheduling, HR and finances, the AIMS payroll system was reportedly shut down quickly because problems arose.

This year, the federal government set aside $135 million in Budget 2024 to hasten Dayforce’s development. Dayforce is the system expected to replace the disastrous Phoenix pay system in the next few years.

CUPE is reportedly urging the SHA and the Saskatchewan government to address AIMS’ problems.

The SHA has acknowledged problems with the system, however, it stated that issues are being addressed.

“Instances where employees do not receive their pay are being addressed quickly, and all staff are being paid,” Mike Northcott - CHRO at the SHA and member of the AIMS executive steering committee - told Global News. “As issues are identified, advances are processed.”

Mr Northcott added that “all missing wages from the first and second payroll runs have now been paid out to employees.” 

He claimed that the number of employees affected by the issue in the first pay run was fewer than 1 per cent and that the figure for those affected by the same issue in the second pay run was well below that.

The AIMS system reportedly processes approximately 48,000 payslips in each pay period.

On the eighth anniversary of the launch of the Phoenix pay system, in February 2024, three unions called on the federal government to provide additional compensation for damages to workers impacted by the system’s troubles. 

Anita Anand - president of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) - said, “All public service employees deserve to be paid accurately and on time.” 

Source: HRD (via Global News)

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In Canada, a public employees' union has raised concerns over healthcare workers’ experiences receiving their pay and highlighted a system that it says is problematic, HRD reports.

According to reporting from Global News, the issue stems from AIMS payroll software, which the provincial government relaunched for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) two months ago.

Bashir Jalloh - Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 5430 health service providers president - said, “Our members are missing hundreds, even upwards of a thousand dollars in some cases, on their paycheques, and that is unacceptable.

“The system is set up in such a way that when there’s a problem with your pay, you create a ticket.

“Sometimes they respond - but it’s usually two weeks, three weeks and people are not getting paid and they’re not getting any response. There is a real apprehension from our members.”

Launched in 2021 to manage payroll, scheduling, HR and finances, the AIMS payroll system was reportedly shut down quickly because problems arose.

This year, the federal government set aside $135 million in Budget 2024 to hasten Dayforce’s development. Dayforce is the system expected to replace the disastrous Phoenix pay system in the next few years.

CUPE is reportedly urging the SHA and the Saskatchewan government to address AIMS’ problems.

The SHA has acknowledged problems with the system, however, it stated that issues are being addressed.

“Instances where employees do not receive their pay are being addressed quickly, and all staff are being paid,” Mike Northcott - CHRO at the SHA and member of the AIMS executive steering committee - told Global News. “As issues are identified, advances are processed.”

Mr Northcott added that “all missing wages from the first and second payroll runs have now been paid out to employees.” 

He claimed that the number of employees affected by the issue in the first pay run was fewer than 1 per cent and that the figure for those affected by the same issue in the second pay run was well below that.

The AIMS system reportedly processes approximately 48,000 payslips in each pay period.

On the eighth anniversary of the launch of the Phoenix pay system, in February 2024, three unions called on the federal government to provide additional compensation for damages to workers impacted by the system’s troubles. 

Anita Anand - president of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) - said, “All public service employees deserve to be paid accurately and on time.” 

Source: HRD (via Global News)

(Links and quotes via original reporting)