I work in a public hospital and have just received a letter from HealthShare informing me that I have been overpaid and that I owe them money, which they will take from my next pay. Is this allowed?
Yes. Clause 27(v) of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2023 provides that overpayments will be recovered in the next normal pay, except where the employee can demonstrate undue hardship, in which case the recovery rate will be at 10 per cent of an employee’s gross fortnightly base pay. This recovery rate can also be reduced in circumstances of financial hardship by mutual agreement.
You must be provided with information about the circumstances of the overpayment, the amount involved and when recovery will commence before any amounts can be deducted from your pay. If you are not provided with this information or do not agree with the information that has been provided to you, then please contact the Association for assistance.