Otago's support workers are being paid generously and impending cuts to travel reimbursement will create greater equity across the entire health sector, the Accident Compensation Corporation says.
But support workers in the region are concerned their jobs will no longer be viable once the cuts come into force on November 23.
One is also concerned about discrepancies between agencies and what they pass on to workers, claiming she has never received a particular entitlement paid by ACC to her employer Nursing New Zealand (NNZ).
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, is a support worker in Otago employed by the Dunedin-based NNZ to provide home care to ACC claimants.
She said while travelling to and from homes of clients she was reimbursed per kilometre, but not for the time it took her.
ACC health purchasing director Gail Kettle, of Wellington, said ACC paid agencies - including NNZ - 62c reimbursement for every kilometre travelled, as well as half a worker's hourly rate for each hour staff spent travelling.
Ms Kettle said ACC expected the majority of what it paid agencies to be passed on to workers as a direct reimbursement, after agencies covered the cost of managing the arrangement.
The Otago support worker said she would be shocked if NNZ had "pocketed" the money ACC paid the agency for her time spent travelling on the job.
Based on her past few years employment with NNZ, the woman estimated the travel reimbursement she had not received was more than $2000.
NNZ declined to comment when asked yesterday.
The woman said she was disappointed ACC had decided to cut its travel allowance, but more concerned NNZ had not given her an opportunity to negotiate the loss in earnings.
She said she was told of the impending cuts by telephone last week, and had not received written confirmation despite requesting it from NNZ the following day.
She regarded her present earnings to be adequate, although did not know whether her job would be viable once cuts came into force.
Ms Kettle said ACC was confident it paid agencies enough to provide workers with adequate earnings, and it was reasonable to dock reimbursement for 20km of travel each day.
"We do value the work these people do. It is not devaluing it in any way," she said.
Ms Kettle would not disclose the hourly rate ACC paid agencies for support workers as it was contractually sensitive.
