// Many Next workers have been underpaid following the botched implementation of a new Oracle payroll system
// The error has also impacted payments to pension schemes
Next workers have been left out of pocket following a series of payroll errors over the past few months.
Many of the retailer’s workforce have been underpaid over several months following the botched implementation of a new Oracle payroll system that was introduced in February.
The payroll error could not have come at a worse time as consumers struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and are faced with rising food and fuel bills.
Alongside the underpayment, Next has also deducted some staff pension contributions without investing them into their retirement schemes, according to The Sunday Times.
One worker told the newspaper that some staff had resorted to using food banks or taking holiday days as they could not afford the petrol to get to work.
Next had been receiving up to 113 calls a day from irate employees complaining about pay issues, although this has now dropped to an average of 50 a day.
READ MORE: What Next for the cost-of-living crisis? Even retail Nostradamus Wolfson is flummoxed
A Next spokesperson told the newspaper: “We have experienced a number of issues with our new payroll system and have been tackling them as a matter of urgency.
“This is one of the very few instances where Next has outsourced critical software and we have learnt some important lessons about integrating our in-house applications with third-party platforms. We are acutely aware of the problems these payroll errors have caused some of our colleagues. We sincerely apologise to all those affected.”
Next added that no staff would be out of pocket because of the errors made to pension contributions.
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