VA SOFTWARE PROBLEMS CAUSE ACCESS ISSUES FOR VETS AND OVERTIME PAY DELAYS FOR WORKERS
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Time and Attendance System (VATAS) isn’t something those not employed by the organization may consider much. Yet, recent issues compounded by the current political arena cutting resources for Vets poses a real threat to the benefits and services you might rely on. VA overtime pay issues and the cuts that could lead to staffing shortages, could mean longer wait times, and inefficient processes for Veterans.
Understanding the System Responsible for VA Overtime Pay
VA overtime pay is conducted by VATAS, which uses the cloud to provide the department with an encompassing way to manage its payroll.
Through VATAS, VA employees can ask for time off, review their schedules, and much more.
The system receives information from the Defense Civilian Pay System (DCPS) through the Health Resources Priorities and Allocation System (HRPAS) and personnel data from HRSmart.
TLDR: All of that’s a fancy way of saying VATAS is how the department keeps track of the amount of time employees work.
Overtime Pay Delayed Until April 11
One of the worst feelings is doing your job well only to have to wait for your payment to be sent.
Delays in payment can lead to negative morale within a workforce, and now, thousands of VA employees, they’re facing these exact conditions.
Despite already completing overtime hours, employees are being forced to wait until April 11, 2025, due to an issue with VATAS, which has affected payroll processing for around 2% of the VA.
"To summarize: 100% of VA employees will be paid their normal wages on time and 98% of VA employees will experience no impact whatsoever from this issue," said VA Press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz.
Could Cuts Lead to More Overtime?
As VA overtime issues rear their ugly head, the idea of more overtime for employees remains a real possibility.
Cuts continue to pour in as the VA is set to cut around 80,000 positions in 2025, which could lead to more work for the remaining employees.
While rolling out the cuts, many VA employees have left or are leaving due to an offer from the federal government providing a financial incentive to resign.
The "Fork in the Road" offer from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is yet another effort from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
How VA Overtime Pay and Cuts Could Impact Veterans
While payment schedules might not seem like a big deal to everyone, when it comes to the VA, there are direct consequences that could befall the Veteran community.
For starters, many people who work within the VA are Veterans. This delay of payment is a financial hurdle for Vets simply looking to make ends meet.
Secondly, having issues with payroll can lead to burnout and reduced efficiency. Two areas that may be further compounded as more strain is put on the remaining workforce as cuts continue.
With fewer staff members, employees might have to work overtime to keep up with the workload, but if there are issues with timely pay, this could be a problem.
Workers are less incentivized to take on overtime when there isn’t compensation, and combined with fewer employees, Veterans may face longer wait times for appointments, claims processing, and other essential services than usual.
As the situation continues, critics are pointing out that Congress has an oversight, hoping that the VA overtime pay issues, along with the notable cuts to the department, can be overcome for the sake of our Veterans.
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