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Gov't 'failed to resource payroll team with adequately trained staff'

Tynwald Commissioner records two findings of maladministration after tax deduction error

Failing to resource its payroll team with adequately trained staff constitutes maladministration by Isle of Man Government's Office of Human Resources.

That's the finding of the Tynwald Commissioner of Administration after one government worker was left with a four-figure bill due to a tax code error.

Angela Main Thompson was asked to investigate after Ms V was left owing Treasury a four-figure sum when she left the government workforce.

Ms V held two part-time positions in government, and was promoted in one, meaning she was being paid at two different grades.

As a result, her salary wasn't deducted correctly - something Ms Main Thompson found wasn't clear from her payslips.

While looking into the complaint, the Tynwald Commissioner found OHR's payroll team had been reduced from 16 members of staff to four, while high staff turnover had resulted in an inexperienced team.

The payroll office is responsible for 11,000 salaries and 8,000 pensions, which Ms Main Thompson described as a 'staggering statistic', fearing Ms V's case could be the 'tip of the iceberg'.

While the report found responsibility for ensuring tax liability is paid lies with the individual, the Tynwald Commissioner found OHR did breach its statutory duty by failing to inform Ms V of her right to make a complaint, resulting in a ruling of maladministration.

Ms Main Thompson also found the failure to have an adequately trained payroll team also amounts to maladministration.

The report acknowledges that changes have already been made to improve the complaints procedure and Ms Main Thompson says she's satisfied proper safeguards are now in place to prevent the error being repeated.

Manx Radio has invited the Isle of Man Government to comment.

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