Encompass Community Services pay audit to be complete by August

More than a year after an audit of the pay audit at a maor employment service began, staff are still no closer to knowing the scame of underpaymnet. Here’s when they may find out.

More than a year after an audit of pay rates of 500 staff at a major Geelong community and employment service organisation started, staff are no closer to knowing the scale of underpayment.

Pay rates of current and former staff at Encompass Community Services between 2015 and 2021 are being audited after consultants HR4Business were called in to investigate in April last year as part of wider human resources overhaul.

Encompass — which provides education and training, disability employment services and in-home care and has staff across 14 regions in Victoria including in Geelong — has also been under investigation for pay issues by the Fair Work Ombudsman since December.

Sources have told the Geelong Advertiser a six-figure sum could be owed to former employees.

Do you know more or were you underpaid? Email: [e-mail] or call 0456 841 349.

Encompass chief executive officer Elaine Robb said due to the scope of the audit it would take time but hoped it would be complete by August.

Encompass Community Services chief executive officer Elaine Robb

“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.

“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.”

The focus of the audits is on staff working under incorrect pay grades and awards since late 2015, and staff not progressing to award-directed pay levels after 12 months of service, a former Encompass staff member said.

In September last year referencing the HR4Business audit Ms Robb said: “That audit is almost complete and where it identifies a failure by Encompass to comply with the relevant Modern Award, it will be addressed directly with the impacted employee. Rectification may necessitate updated employment contracts, or it may include back payments to staff including interest where applicable.”

A former encompass employee said staff had become disillusioned with the HR4Buinsess audit and were sceptical it would return a result in their favour.

“I have spoken to other ex-employees and they have lost confidence with HR4Business because they were doing HR work for Encompass before the audit started.

“We are also wondering why the Fair Work Ombudsman is taking so long with its investigation into Encompass.”

An FWO spokesman said it could not comment on the investigation.

The former Encompass workers said: “I’ve spoken to a dozen former employees who have raised pay issues, one said to me, ‘I feel like I’ve been betrayed’.”

It comes as Ms Robb has been appointed to the board of Jobs Australia, the peak body responsible for overseeing the not-for-profit employment services, education, training and skills development and community services sector.

“As the CEO of Encompass Community Services since 1995, it has been Elaine’s pleasure to oversee talented and dedicated staff who are assisting and standing side by side with people of all backgrounds and abilities,” a biography on the Jobs Australia about Ms Robb reads.

The former Encompass employee said it was “not a good look” for Ms Robb to be appointed to the Jobs Australia board.

“Maybe they are unaware that Encompass is subject to an ongoing investigation.”

Originally published as Encompass Community Services pay audit to be complete by August