RI state employee payroll errors continue

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Attempts by the State of Rhode Island to correct payroll mistakes for its employees has instead triggered a cascade of new errors, raising fresh concerns about oversight and internal controls in the state’s compensation system.

The issue began when state employees flagged incorrect payroll amounts in their paychecks. State payroll officials acknowledged the discrepancies and initiated what was described as corrective adjustments.

But when the revised paychecks were issued, the employees say there were new errors. Some of the issues reported by employees include:

Missing Work Hours

The corrected pay statements failed to show the number of hours the employees had worked during the disputed pay periods. Without that information, the employees say, it is impossible to independently verify whether the gross pay was calculated accurately.

Incorrect Pay Rates

The pay rate used in the recalculation was incorrect. The employees maintain that the hourly rate applied does not match the rate specified in their employment agreements.

Improper Pension Deductions

Money was deducted from their pension accounts in error. Instead of correcting the original issue, the new payroll adjustment have triggered unauthorized withdrawals related to retirement contributions.

The state administers public employee retirement benefits through the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island. Any mistaken deductions can have long-term consequences if not promptly reversed, as pension contributions affect both employee balances and future benefit calculations.

Child Support Garnishment Errors

Some paychecks included deductions for child support that the employees do not owe.

Erroneous wage garnishments can create legal and financial complications, particularly when they involve sensitive matters such as child support. In Rhode Island, wage withholding for child support is typically processed in coordination with state enforcement authorities and requires proper documentation before deductions are made.

For now, what began as payroll corrections has evolved into a multi-layered administrative problem.