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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Qualmed Workers Pinched For Christmas

Grayden Jones Staff Writer

With just 27 days until Christmas, employees at QualMed Health Plan in Spokane have learned that their Christmas week pay will be delayed as part of a shift to a centralized payroll system.

The shift will streamline payroll functions for the Pueblo, Colo.-based health maintenance organization. But it could strain the pocketbooks of some employees who were hoping to pay bills and buy Christmas gifts.

The payroll change illustrates the little ways corporate consolidation can affect employees, even if no layoffs are involved.

“I’m not going to pretend that this is all dandy. It’s a hardship for some and I feel very badly about it, personally,” said QualMed executive director David Anderson.

The change affects 110 Spokane employees who process claims, bill customers and manage health plans for 60,000 Eastern Washington and North Idaho members. QualMed’s annual Spokane payroll is $3 million.

Peterson said the change was designed to coincide with the company’s new budget year, beginning Jan. 1. At that time, the Spokane office will shift payroll functions to Pueblo.

Currently, QualMed employees are paid every two weeks on a Friday for the 80-hour pay period ending that day.

But beginning the week of Christmas, QualMed will issue paychecks one week after the pay period ends.

Employees will be paid Jan. 12, for two weeks of work completed through Jan. 6.

Same-day paychecks are rare. The federal government and most corporations issue paychecks days or weeks after a pay period ends.

Larry Wilson, district director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s wage and hour division in Seattle, said employers legally can pay employees up to one month after the pay period ends, though few wait that long.

, DataTimes