As an alternative urges donations to caregivers fund; will search damages from hacked timecard system supplier

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — St. Charles Well being System late Friday dropped its demand that staff repay some $2 million in overpayments after weeks of employee and union objections and a petition drive by tons of of caregivers refusing to make the funds with out an impartial audit to confirm the figures’ accuracy.

This is the complete assertion despatched to St. Charles staff by Dr. Steve Johnson, the hospital group’s interim CEO and president:

UKG Reimbursement Replace 

Caregivers,  

Thanks once more on your endurance as we’ve continued to work by means of the UKG outage points.  

We have now heard frustrations and confusion from a lot of you over the knowledge and instruments offered to confirm the overpayment quantities. Caregivers have each proper to know the greenback quantity we’re asking them to repay. Though we proceed to consider it is necessary that individuals who had been paid for time they didn’t work pay these {dollars} again to the well being system, we merely don’t have the sources to help the tons of of sophisticated knowledge requests we’re receiving.  

I would like you to know I’ve heard you and I’ve made the choice that St. Charles will not search reimbursement of those funds from caregivers. Relatively, we hope that these of you who know you had been overpaid will think about making a donation in that very same quantity to the St. Charles Cares (Caregiver Help Fund) of the St. Charles Basis.

It’s simple to donate on-line and we want to see this unlucky state of affairs lead to direct help for our caregivers. We additionally plan to pursue damages from the seller, UKG. If profitable, we’ll match all caregiver donations to the fund. 

Greater than something, I wish to acknowledge and reward our inner Payroll staff, our timekeepers and so many extra who’ve gone above and past to be sure to had been paid as precisely as potential given the knowledge you offered. They’ve acquired an extremely unfair quantity of criticism and backlash for a state of affairs that was prompted not by them, however by a ransomware assault on a third-party vendor. We stand by the professionalism, accuracy and diligence of our Payroll and timekeeping groups. 

Already, greater than 100 caregivers have paid again the overpayment quantity. We tremendously recognize your immediate responses and dedication to doing what’s proper. In case you not want to make your reimbursement, you possibly can contact the Payroll staff immediately by Oct. 14 to make this request. As well as, greater than 300 caregivers have accomplished the paperwork to begin the reimbursement course of. The Payroll staff is not going to course of these agreements. If you’re amongst this group, please know you’re additionally strongly inspired to donate to the overpayment quantity to the St. Charles Cares (Caregiver Help Fund). 

This case has additionally delivered to mild numerous points round timecard practices and accountability. Going ahead, you will notice a robust deal with enchancment on this space. 

Thanks once more to so a lot of you who’ve already chosen to do the fitting factor in a state of affairs that has been extraordinarily troublesome to navigate for all concerned. 

Sincerely,

Steve