‘Somebody dropped the ball;’ Novant Health pay delay leaves some workers unpaid for days
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of Novant Health employees across North Carolina have been impacted by a payroll issue that left workers waiting days for their expected paychecks.
Employees told WWAY they had been waiting since Wednesday for their biweekly pay. While some reported receiving their direct deposits late Friday afternoon, others said they were still waiting for their money.
Novant Health confirmed the delays were related to a change in its payroll distributor last month.
Jeff Cantrell, a former Novant Health employee who left the health system in October, said he expected to receive his final paycheck Wednesday morning. After contacting human resources, he learned he wasn’t the only person experiencing the issue.
“Wednesday went by, Thursday went by, Friday went by and I was well I need to call,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell said the delay disrupted his weekend plans and raised concerns about employees who depend on receiving their paychecks on time.
“It’s so frustrating because I know I had plans for this weekend, and I can only imagine if you have kids or are in need of food,” Cantrell said.
In a statement, Novant Health apologized for the delay, explaining that it switched to a new payroll distributor last month, which affected the timing of direct deposits.
The health system said its payroll vendor, ADP, confirmed payments would reach employees’ bank accounts Friday, although the exact timing would depend on each employee’s bank.
However, some workers told WWAY late Friday afternoon that they still had not received their paychecks and were concerned they could be left waiting through the weekend.
Cantrell criticized the health system’s response, saying an automated email was not enough to address the concerns of employees.
“This automatic email is so impersonal, this is a huge deal, maybe it doesn’t feel huge to them but it is a great big deal in today’s economy,” Cantrell said.
A current Novant Health employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told WWAY the delayed paycheck forced them to reschedule a doctor’s appointment for the following week.
The employee confirmed receiving their paycheck late Friday afternoon but expressed concerns that a similar issue could happen again.
“Somebody dropped the ball and they’re not taking accountability for it,” they said. “I feel like they probably saw this coming way sooner. They definitely should have given us a broader heads up even if to say we might have a problem just so we’re aware that this could turn into what it has turned into,” the employee said.
Cantrell said he hopes the payroll problems lead Novant Health to reevaluate its communication and accountability to employees and the community.
“Are they getting over their head? Do we need a new leader? We need eyes on the ground, you need to talk to the community and listen to the community,” Cantrell said.
Novant Health maintains that payments were expected to reach employees’ bank accounts Friday, Nov. 6, but the timing depends on individual banks.
As of late Friday afternoon, some employees continued to report missing payments, raising concerns about whether they would receive their money before the weekend.
