Interviews

False absenteeism calls for detection

by Mark Rowe

A commercial detective agency is reporting an rise in the number of false absenteeism cases they are given. Expert Investigations Ltd reports that it investigates up to 150 a year with a continuous rise of enquires.

False absenteeism costs employers time and expense, across all industry sectors, as the firm points out, and can put stress on colleagues, causing poor morale.

According to the latest Labour Force Survey statistics (2014), more than 131 million days are still being lost to sickness absence every year in Great Britain alone. And, a survey of 1,000 British employees published in July 2015 by Timeware (UK) suggested that almost 60pc of those surveyed had pulled a ‘sickie’ in the last three years.

Expert Investigations Ltd reports that companies of all types and sizes, will contact them when they feel something is wrong but cannot prove it. The agency is able to gather evidence which can then be used as the organisation sees fit, whether in the internal discipline process, tribunal or civil proceedings.

Often, false absenteeism is based around finance; an employee is either found involved with a second job, running a business or supporting a family business.

Recently, a company from the manufacturing sector called on Expert Investigations Ltd to look into a suspected false absenteeism case, where an employee was off long-term sick with stress and depression.

Known as Operation Tractor, it carried out observation and surveillance on the suspect and found he was not only carrying out house renovation, but had set up a business with a member of his family and a bonafide business with a number of properties which he then carried out maintenance work for. The employee was not only absent from work on full pay, but was receiving the payment from his second job. The evidence produced led to immediate dismissal of the employee.

David Kearns, pictured, Managing Director of Expert Investigations Ltd, said: “Businesses in all sectors are affected by false absenteeism which largely impacts on productivity and costs.

“Companies often become aware of issues but don’t understand the lawful resources that are available to help them deal with such issues. We lawfully gather, preserve and present the evidence and where appropriate deal with managers as they take the issue through the civil, or discipline route.”

Case study one:

A company from the professional services sector required assistance in observing an employee suspected of purporting to be suffering from severe stress and depression.

The operation was undertaken over a period of days involved regular covert observation of a female employee who had claimed that she was agoraphobic and unable to leave her own home. The observations confirmed that the employee was instead working lunchtime and evening shifts in a pub. The operation provided compelling evidence that was used by the employers in a dismissal.

Case study two:

An investigation on behalf of a Housing Services Department.

A surveillance operation was conducted over three days and a surveillance team observed the employee renovating a home while he was signed off long term sick for a month period with a physical shoulder injury.

The employee was observed to be driving a van, lifting doors out of it and taking them into the renovation property. Also, the investigation found that his former employees from the department had been providing him with equipment stolen from the Department. All evidence was covertly recorded and handed to HR which dismissed the employee and those other employers involved in the scam.

Visit www.expert-investigations.co.uk/.

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