A Dundee care home has blamed the late payment of some residents’ fees for not paying staff wages on time.
Staff at Helenslea Care Home on Fairfield Road say they have been experiencing issues with their pay for the past few months.
One employee who contacted The Courier said there have been occasions when staff have been paid their wages with a cheque which had then bounced.
The staff member, who asked not to be named, said: “For the past four or five months we have been getting paid between five and 10 days late.
“Sometimes we are not getting our full wages and at others we have been getting cheques which then bounce.
“When that happened they then paid us in cash.”
The employee added: “The management says things will get better but it keeps happening. Things just get swept under the carpet.”
Helenslea Care Home is one of four institutions owned by Bertinaley Care, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh.
A spokesman for the company said allegations about staff not being paid were “not completely true” and the company would reimburse any bank charges accrued as a result of delays in paying staff.
He said the late payment of residents’ fees had led to cashflow issues.
He said: “Most of our staff members are paid on time as per contract however occasionally a couple of staff members have had delays which are then rectified within a couple of working days.
“Staff members affected are spoken to and the situation resolved.
“Any bank charges incurred because of the delays are reimbursed back to staff if there is evidence these have been incurred.”
He added: “Occasionally the payroll information for new staff members may not be processed in time for wages because information has not been sent off in time and these may also lead to further delays along with any personal tax code changes.
“These again are resolved promptly and an advance from the home may be given as necessary to help the few staff affected.”
He said the late payment of residents’ fee has also had a “knock on effect ” on when wages are paid.
“We have also unfortunately experienced delays in receiving care fees from the councils and financial appointees of our service users which has had a knock on effect on payments being made.” he said.
