Telus payroll outsourcing firm sued for incompetence

As someone formerly reluctantly dependent on the soul crushing hell of red tape, open disdain and double-talk that is the Telus payroll department, this isn't even remotely surprising.

Calgary health-care workers file lawsuit over payroll and benefit errors

By Bill Graveland

CALGARY — Calgary health-care workers have filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the company that handles their payroll and benefits.

The proposed class action against Telus Sourcing Solutions alleges that years of payroll errors, over-and under-payments and pension problems have left workers in the former Calgary health region frustrated and angry. Some workers claim they are out of pocket as well.

"I want to use my energy to do a good job," said Maureen Mackrory, a social worker who deals with domestic violence prevention and works with men who are charged and convicted.

"I can't do that when I'm distracted all the time with people telling me stories about how they were underpaid or not paid and I just want something to be done," she said Thursday.

"When we had in-house workers on our pension benefits and salaries, we didn't have the hassle and now it's just chaos."

Alberta Health Services contracted out payroll and benefits to Telus Sourcing Solutions in 2003.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 4,000 health-care employees. If it is certified and then successful, any money awarded will be donated to charity.

UPDATE: Internal Telus documents directly refute their claim of 99.9% payroll accuracy.