Pay probe for 500 current, former Encompass staff ongoing as back pay offers land

A year after it started, the probe into underpayment at Encompass Community Services is yet to wrap up but leaders of the organisation don’t want to tell us why.

A probe into underpayment of about 500 current and former staff at a major Geelong disability service organisation is yet to wrap up, more than a year after it was started.

Both the Fair Work Ombudsman and Geelong consultant HR4Business are completing probes into the pay practices at Encompass Community Services between 2015 and 2021.

But both were tight-lipped on Monday and did not provide details of what the probes have found.

The Geelong Advertiser can reveal Encompass employees have received letters detailing offers of back pay in recent weeks with amounts ranging between four and five-figure sums.

Encompass chief executive officer Elaine Robb did not respond when asked if the organisation was committed to paying staff money they are owed.

A former employee said the audit had dragged on for too long.

“Well over a year later, there’s been nothing. I don’t know of anyone who has been back paid,” they said.

Encompass Community Services chief executive officer Elaine Robb.

The former employee said HR4Business had recently wrote to former employees and explained the audit’s focus would now turn to them.

“Why is it only now that they are turning their attention to former employees? This isn’t being dealt with quickly enough.”

Chair of the Encompass board, Alyson Miller, would not comment on the audit when contacted by the Geelong Advertiser on Monday.

In June Ms Robb said she hoped the audit would be completed by August due to its large scope.

“Our investigation covers a period of over six years and the entitlements of 300 past and 259 current employees. It necessarily takes time,” Ms Robb said at the time.

“It is our hope that the audit will be complete by the end of July 2022 and where any underpayments are identified – those impacted will be compensated in accordance with the law.

“Encompass has been working closely with the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure that its audit into historical payroll discrepancies is as thorough as it possibly can be.”

On Monday a Fair Work Ombudsman spokeswoman said: “The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting an investigation in relation to Encompass Community Services. As this matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time.”

Encompass runs an employment agency, provides accommodation support and operates recreational activities for people with disabilities.

Originally published as Pay probe for 500 current, former Encompass staff ongoing as back pay offers land