Giant Umbrella

[silverash]

I'm currently using Giant Umbrella and was due a payment yesterday.

Since yesterday, the portal is unavailable and none of the phone numbers are working.

Anyone else having issues?

Thanks

[TheLastWinja]

Their portal is indeed down.

Received the following from my end client’s contingent workforce team this evening:

“Important: please read
As you may be aware, our payroll partner, Giant, is currently experiencing issues across their systems, which they are working to resolve as a matter of urgency.
As a precaution and in the event that Giant is unable to resolve their system issues in time for your usual weekly pay day of tomorrow, Friday 24 September /Monday 27 September, we are working on a contingency plan to make payments to those who require support and will give a further update on this by 1pm tomorrow. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.”

This does not look promising. Guess we’ll see.

[Andy Hallett]

update 24/09/2021


Upon detection of suspicious activity on our network on 22nd September 2021, we immediately assembled a response team including IT data experts and specialist lawyers, and we are currently working with the highest priority to resolve this issue. As part of the investigation and as a measure of caution, we have proactively taken our systems offline and suspended all services temporarily . We are also liaising with the appropriate authorities to investigate and remediate the situation. We can confirm that our databases are encrypted.

We appreciate that getting paid in a timely manner is of the utmost importance and this is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. We are working hard to ensure as minimal disruption to payment schedules as possible, and we will confirm that your payroll is back to normal at the earliest opportunity. Where possible, an interim payment will be made to you today, 24 September.

We apologise for the disruption and appreciate your patience whilst we investigate this matter and work to restore functionality.

[Andy Hallett]

It's also worth noting that Giant's Precision software runs the back office of a number of UK recruitment companies, so it may be that non-Giant contractors and PSC's are affected as well.

[rosbiff]

I just found out about this when I went to enter my timesheet this morning. It also explains the unexpected payment of £2500 I received on the 24th, I just thought they were being nice.

I'm feeling slightly more concerned about this now :-(

[saptastic]

mmm - seems strange - sounds like they need a few more IT contractors literally.

[elephantstone]

I just found out about this when I went to enter my timesheet this morning. It also explains the unexpected payment of £2500 I received on the 24th, I just thought they were being nice.

I'm feeling slightly more concerned about this now :-(

I did wonder also. I've recently finished my assignment and was expecting my final pay last week. No idea whatsoever whether they've over/underpaid me, but I've no idea what the legalities are if they have indeed overpaid. Sounds like a major breach/issue at their end.

[ladymuck]

Reported in El Reg:

https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/...pay_outage_uk/

No news on when service will be recovered - the article was updated today

[lucyclarityumbrella]

I am pleased to say that we hwork with one agency who does use the Giant backoffice and they have been manually putting payments and timesheets through to try and ensure contractors are paid. On our side all of our contractors have been paid.

[sallyann]

No idea whatsoever whether they've over/underpaid me, but I've no idea what the legalities are if they have indeed overpaid. Sounds like a major breach/issue at their end.

You'll most likely find that this is the same amount you received the last time you were paid through Giant?

We got a tiny bit more info on what was going to happen via the recruitment agency in the organisation I'm working for. They told us we'd be paid the same amount as last week, to ensure people weren't left high and dry. Sadly for me I happened to have been paid for a short week last time, but better than nothing while they sort out whatever is going on.

I'm surprised this isn't bigger news in here tbh. Surely thousands of people affected.