CITB chiefs are now calling-in external auditors to check payments made to staff since April when 400 employees were furloughed from the 850-strong workforce.

One source said: “The whole thing is a total mess with staff being told they have been overpaid when they clearly haven’t and others facing deductions or receiving random payments.”

CITB outsourced its payroll operation to SSCL in February 2019 alongside a swathe of business support services including HR, finance, procurement, technology and change (corporate performance), and apprenticeship processing.

Jennifer King, CITB People Director, said: “We’re taking action to resolve all payroll issues that have resulted through the application of furlough.

“We have contacted affected colleagues to let them know that we expect this highly regrettable matter to be sorted out for them in the next couple of months.

“While CITB isn’t alone in experiencing problems with the complexities of furlough pay, this is very unfortunate timing going into the Christmas break and with some colleagues leaving us in the New Year.”