Vic SES admits it underpaid staff $230k

The Victorian State Emergency Service says it underpaid 130 staff about $228,000 over eight years.

Heavy rain and stormy weather across NSW’s fire-ravaged east has brought celebrations – but the State Emerge Service is warning it could also bring dangers. Source: AAP

The Victorian SES has promised to pay back "with interest" almost $230,000 it owes to 130 staff it underpaid for the last eight years.

While making changes to administration late last year, it discovered shift penalties had been miscalculated ever since the justice department handed over responsibility for payroll in 2009.

An independent investigation discovered the underpayments of $228,000 and overpayments of $3400.

"(The underpayments) were so incremental that those affected didn't even notice," chief executive Stephen Griffin said in a statement on Tuesday.

"While this does not excuse the irregularity, it does put it into context."

The underpayments made up less than one per cent of the state emergency service's annual payroll.

VicSES says it will start auditing payroll every three months, as recommended by the Ernst and Young investigation.

The SES promised to pay back all the money owed with interest.