The collapse of the disability service provider FSG has led to clients being left without carers over the weekend and Monday. While the administrators, FTI Consulting, and CPL have been working out how to transition both staff and clients to CPL, frontline staff have been left confused about whether to show up for shifts and if they were going to be paid.
According to one staff member, who didn’t want to be named, staff received a text on Thursday morning that informed them that if they weren’t going to accept the offer from CPL they shouldn’t turn up to any future rostered shifts. In some cases this meant that staff had less than 48 hours to accept an employment offer.
A CPL spokesperson stated, ‘Our understanding is that some staff did not show up – but that didn’t mean they were left without care’.
Echonetdaily understands that there were clients left without care and in some instances staff who were not accepting CPLs offer nonetheless showed up, even thought they didn’t know if they were going to be paid, to ensure clients weren’t left without care.
CPL and the administrators FTI Consulting have now confirmed with Echonetdaily that FSG will continue to pay staff until midnight on Tuesday 17 July with CPL taking over the payroll on Wednesday July18.
‘They have until midnight tonight (Tuesday July 17) to progress their employment with CPL,’ said a CPL spokesperson.
‘There has been quite a high number of people who have taken up employment with us. There will be further correspondence around pay and how they get paid.’
Payments
A spokesperson for the administrators told Echonetdaily, ‘Staff who have not had or have declined the offer from CPL will be paid out what they are owed in relation to wages’.
However, all other entitlements such as long-service leave (that can also be claimed by casual employees) needs to be lodged with the administrators.
‘Outstanding entitlements will be paid in due course,’ continued the spokesperson for the administrators.
‘Staff will be required to lodge a claim. If the company (FSG) goes into liquidation then staff will be paid via the federal government’s Fair Entitlements Guarantee.’
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
