Shadow Minister for Health Rob Lucas today slammed the Labor Government for its shabby and appalling treatment of long suffering employees who had taken separation packages.
Two former Health employees have complained to the Liberal Party that separation payments they were entitled to receive had been delayed by up to four months.
In one case an employee resigned on 21 December 2012 and finished up on 11 January 2013. However, it wasn’t until April that the separation payment was finally received and even now the final reconciliation pay slip has not been received.
In another case an employee who had worked for SA Health for more than 20 years finished work on 15 March 2013. She was originally told she would receive her separation payment last week. However, when she contacted Shared Services about the delay she claims she was told there was “no one there who could do it” and “hundreds of people were waiting to be paid out.”
“This is no way to treat employees who have given many years of loyal service to the public sector,” Mr Lucas said.
“In many cases employees are relying on these separation payments to help manage their transition into retirement or new job opportunities and cannot afford to go weeks or months without payment.
“The problem is so widespread the Nursing and Midwifery Federation have advised me part of their log of claims for their next enterprise bargaining agreement will include a claim for interest to be paid on late payments in certain defined circumstances.
“This is a damning indictment of Shared Services and SA Health and Minister Snelling and Premier Weatherill need to take urgent corrective action to resolve this situation.”