CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thousands of state workers will see their paydays change from twice a month to biweekly following a vote Wednesday by the state Enterprise Resource Planning Board.
The board, chaired by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, passed a resolution that puts into effect Phase 2 of the payday change for approximately 25,000 workers. The first phase, impacting 9,000 employees, took place last summer.
Wednesday’s resolution includes a few exceptions including the judicial system, according to state Auditor Glen Gainer.
“We’re moving ahead with Phase 2. We are going to continue to work out and address the concerns the Court (Supreme Court) has and it would be our hope to bring them on sometime after we bring most of the rest of state government on line,” Gainer said following the meeting.
The implementation of the change, brought on by the new state government Oasis computer system, was put on hold last year after Phase 1 when a number of concerns were raised by the legislative auditor, state lawmakers and others. Some of those concerns still remain, but it’s best to move forward with the change while continuing to work through the issues, Gainer said.
Gov. Tomblin supports the change.
“I think it’s time. We have a lot of money and time invested in the Oasis project and it’s time to move on to have the kind of accountability and transparency that we need to make educated decisions to run state government,” Tomblin said.
It’s possible a few other state agencies won’t be ready for the change come May, according to Gainer. He mentioned state operated hospitals under the state Department of Health and Human Resources as one area that may need more time.
Gainer said he intends to abide by the state Supreme Court’s order that he provide answers to a pair of legal actions filed by probation and Family Court workers in connection with the change.
“I would hope the Court would give us some guidance,” Gainer said. His answer is due April 20.
The switch to biweekly pay occurred last June for workers in the offices of the governor, auditor and treasurer along with the Departments of Agriculture and Transportation and the Divisions of Administration and Natural Resources. Gainer said Wednesday he hasn’t received one complaint from those approximately 9,000 state workers.
“We believe, as the governor said, it’s what’s in the best interest of the State of West Virginia and most certainly it’s the way the majority of corporate America pays their employees,” Gainer said. “It is the most efficient way to pay people—in a biweekly system.”