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Calling on the Controller of the City of Philadelphia to investigate and audit the OnePhilly system in light of ongoing problems and inefficiencies which are compromising the City’s basic functions and public trust.
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WHEREAS, OnePhilly is the City’s new payroll and human resources system which has encountered serious errors since its implementation and raised questions about the City’s ability to administer important functions for its more than 25,000 employees; and
WHEREAS, On October 12, 2019, the Inquirer reported that potentially thousands of employees had been overpaid by the OnePhilly system, and the City remains unaware of how much money has been lost; and
WHEREAS, The overpayment errors are in addition to the underpayment of thousands of employees by OnePhilly since its payroll system rollout in March of 2019. These underpayment errors have resulted in numerous claims against the City by unions and individual employees; and
WHEREAS, Since 2015, the following issues with OnePhilly have surfaced: significant delays in launching the system which was scheduled, under contract, to be completed by December 2015, payroll errors resulting in litigation from City employee unions, increases in overtime costs due to miscalculations for thousands of employees who earn time-and-a-half pay, inaccurate sick time and vacation accruals, and situations in which employees have reportedly been tasked with tracking their own time; and
WHEREAS, The City has paid almost $50 million thus far for the OnePhilly system, and it still does not work correctly; and
WHEREAS, City Council calls on the City Controller to conduct an investigation of the OnePhilly contract and all costs associated with attempts to address the ongoing problems with the system; and
WHEREAS, The investigation should also include a review of City policies and procedures to address issues associated with the contract and the issues stemming therefrom since its inception; and
WHEREAS, As the City now weekly issues incorrect payroll checks, erodes the public trust and the trust of its employees, and potentially loses money because of the problems with OnePhilly, Council urges the Controller’s office to make investigating and finding a solution a top priority; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City Council of Philadelphia, Calls on the Controller to audit the OnePhilly system in light of ongoing problems and inefficiencies which are compromising the City’s basic functions and public trust. The audit report will be presented to City Controller before a public hearing to ensure officials and the public can fully review and discuss findings and solutions.