Many National Park Service employees returned to work this week to find paychecks that were less than usual.

More than a few National Park Service employees returned to work this week glad to be back on the job and anxious to receive paychecks. Unfortunately, many of those paychecks were short of usual, in some cases by up to $1,000.

"I'm still not 100 percent on how these are being calculated," read a comment on a Facebook page for Park Service employees. "I had a deposit last night as well, but it was $350 short of a normal check POST taxes and deductions."

Another employee, who works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wrote that, "We were told at FWS that they are only paying 80 percent right now, we will get the rest later. It was a very confusing explanation."

Added a third, "Well, 43 percent of what is owed is far less then 80 percent. I would be happy with 80 percent. Fortuantely, I can get by. I doubt everyone can."

In Washington, D.C., Park Service spokesman Jeremy Barnum told the Traveler on Wednesday that details of the payroll process were explained on an Interior Department FAQ page devoted to that very subject.

"Our top priority is getting you paid as quickly as possible," the FAQ page said. "In order to accomplish this, employees will receive 'interim or off-cycle payments.' 'Interim or Off Cycle' payments are calculated slightly differently than normal payroll payments. You can expect to receive payment for the number of hours that you normally would have worked, minus deductions for taxes, retirement, health benefits, etc. There will be additional pay corrections processed in the following pay periods to ensure your back pay is accurate."

But a Park Service employee reached Wednesday by the Traveler said the explanation from Washington, D.C., of the shortages was confusing, and that the partial pay was a shock. Though they were told the amount withheld would be "minimal," the amounts ranged from several hundred dollars up to $1,000, based on pay grades, they said.

"I guess the description of 'minimal' means different things to different people," said the employee. "People just came in Monday, 'We're excited to be back at work, we're going to get a paycheck, that's good, we might get two paychecks this week,' and then a third of their check could be gone. That's not minimal, when you take a third of a person's paycheck and hold it back. ...People are feeling right now, what another slap in the face. Do they want to demoralize people even more? Well, they just did a good job of that."

An eight-page memo sent Saturday from the agency's associate director for workforce and inclusion to regional directors, associate directors, and assistant directors acknowledged that bringing payroll matters up to date would likely "require an intense amount of work."

Complicating the paperwork task was the fact that some employees were furloughed without pay but were eligible for retroactive pay, some were on duty but not being paid, some were exempt from the furlough and were being paid, and some went on unpaid leave and were not eligible for back pay.

Since HR staff were among those furloughed, when they returned to work this week they quickly had to tackle paperwork for the pay period that ended December 22, when the shutdown started. That pay documentation would have to be completed by February 4, the memo said, with the pay included in the following pay period. Additionally, employees needed to have "time and attendance" records timely and accurately filed so they would receive all the back pay they were due.

To be on the safe side, the memo said, the interim pay being made was intentionally less than the total amount to avoid making overpayments.

The DOI FAQ page said employees should be made whole by mid-February.

"We are currently in the midst of (pay period 03). If all timecard amendments are inputted timely for the PP03 processing, your payment will include your regular pay for non-lapsed days within PP03, plus any remaining back pay that is due to you for the lapse period that falls in this current pay period (1/20/2019 through 1/25/2019," the site explained. "The official pay day for PP03 is Tuesday, February 12, 2019, although you may see your direct deposit as early as Friday, February 8, 2019, depending on your financial institution."