(Updated at 1:45 p.m. Oct. 7 to clarify attribution and details of NEON contact with the governor’s office.)
NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON) employees received some bad news shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday – their paychecks would be delayed until Tuesday.
To make matters worse, Stephenson told NEON employees in a series of meetings Friday afternoon and evening that the agency did not have enough money to cover its payroll and was awaiting a check from the state, and that layoffs were likely.
The employees got the news about their pay in an email from acting CEO and President Chiquita Stephenson with no explanation of why the checks would not be available on time. NancyOnNorwalk obtained a copy of the email, which read:
“Please be advised that we have just been informed that our paychecks due to be received today October 4, 2013 will not be in house until Tuesday, October 8, 2013.
“We understand the inconvenience that this delay will cause to each of you financially and we apologize for the inconvenience as this was not in our control.
“With this shared, there will be 3 meetings held today, one at 4:00 pm 98 South Main Street, 2nd floor conference room, 5:00 pm and another one at 6:30 pm at Ely in the gym to share our direction and to answer any questions that individuals may have.
“This is a delicate time in our history, government and agency mission as the government has shut down. We are applauding each of you who are taking a deep breathe, proceeding with a calm spirit and continuing with an open heart to continue to press forward with serving the individuals, children and families that we serve together.
“Together we will continue to make a difference.”
Respectfully,
Chiquita Stephenson
Acting CEO/President
According to multiple sources, including several who work for NEON, there now have been problems for two straight paydays. NEON pays its employees every two weeks.
A NancyOnNorwalk commenter with the screen name NEON Staff posted this on another story earlier today:
“Nancy, How about the fact that NO NEON EMPLOYEES received their pay checks after two weeks of work NEON was not able to make payroll, so staff has to wait until Tuesday to get their paychecks. Neon knew since Monday about the situation and waited until 5 pm Thursday to send out an e-mail about not receiving a paycheck until 3 pm Friday so they wait until 2 pm Friday to let staff know we are not getting paid until Tuesday. I feel sorry for the families with no food or gas and NEON’s management staff response to this was oh you’ll be fine.I bet they got their checks.”
Angry & Disgusted
NEON Staff
Board of Directors member Jack O’Dea responded to an inquiry sent to new Board Chairman Michael Berkoff on Friday afternoon, as Berkoff was unavailable. O’Dea said it was his understanding that a computer problem led to employees getting paper checks and no direct deposit two weeks ago.
However, community activist Ernie Dumas said Thursday that, two weeks ago, NEON employees were told on payday that, because of a change in payroll services, there would not be direct deposit that day and they would get handwritten paper checks between noon and 1:30 p.m, “Nobody got a check until after 4 p.m. that Friday,” he said.
Stephenson confirmed Friday night that NEON had changed payroll processors and that is what led to the paper checks two weeks ago.
“They should have let people know two weeks in advance that they were changing companies,” Dumas said Thursday.
O’Dea said the state Department of Social Services is sending NEON $283,000-plus to cover the payroll, which will be distributed Tuesday. The amount is to be repaid to DSS, he said.
O’Dea said Friday night that O’Dea and Berkoff got a phone call “from the governor’s people and the governor” earlier in the day to discuss getting NEON emergency funding to make payroll.
“These things are continuously happening,” Dumas said. “They need to change all those folks.”
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