'Insufficient Funds' Leave Glenpool EMS Plus Workers Without Paychecks

Some EMTs and paramedics said they won't be returning to work for EMS Plus in Glenpool after their paychecks bounced.

One employee said he tried to cash it three times, but tellers told him there were insufficient funds.

City officials said, no matter what, an ambulance will still show up when you call 911 because of mutual aid agreements with nearby cities and the county.

We couldn't reach anyone at EMS Plus corporate headquarters, but a supervisor in Glenpool said it's nothing serious, only a payroll issue.

Friday seemed like a normal day at the EMS Plus office in Glenpool - ambulances sat outside, and staff worked inside - but one employee wasn’t there, and said he won’t go back to work until he gets paid.

It's a problem of which City Manager Roger Kolman is aware.

"Some of the checks had bounced and had been made up or made good by the company, and as far as we know, today EMS Plus is still operating out of Glenpool, Oklahoma," he said.

About a year ago, a Texas company bought EMS Plus. Soon after, the company unveiled new equipment and an upgraded medical communications center.

But now, some of the staff is worried about their future.

"We still don't know for sure what's really happening. Certainly you don't like to hear these things about partners with the city, but until this shakes out we aren't really sure what is occurring," Kolman said.

The center's supervisor said the employee who usually handles payroll has been out on medical leave, and another employee has taken over.

He said there have been issues transferring the right amount of money to cover all the checks, but assured that if a check bounces the money is wired to the employee right away.

He explained that when paychecks are issued money is transferred from a savings account to a checking account. Then, after employees cash their checks, they transfer the money back to savings until the next pay period.

The supervisor said when the money hasn't been there it's because they thought every employee already cashed their checks.

But, the employee we spoke with said, after multiple attempts to cash his check, he still hasn't received any money, so he's not coming back to work.

The city manager said, "We will call for a meeting with the company, and sit down and say, 'What is really happening?'”

The former owner of EMS Plus is suing the new owner for being behind on payments. The lawsuit says she's owed $75,000.

EMS Plus closed its other Oklahoma location this week in Oklahoma City. The supervisor in Glenpool said it’s because the managers weren’t following state guidelines.