6 signs of absenteeism fraud

Absenteeism fraud often starts with suspicion. For example, you are tipped off by colleagues or you have found something yourself that is wrong. But are your suspicions correct and how do you address them? In this blog, we take you into the signs of possible absenteeism fraud. Are you reading along?

Does go to parties?

As an employer, it can be frustrating to discover that a sick employee does go to parties but cancels the appointment with the company doctor. It can be tempting to take immediate action, but it's important to investigate what's going on first.

Perhaps the employee has a good reason for going to the party, such as an important social occasion that he or she can't get away from. On the other hand, it may also be that the employee exaggerates the illness or calls in sick to make time for other activities.

In any case, it is important as an employer to talk to the employee to discuss the situation and to ensure good communication and cooperation between employer and employee. If the employee does not comply with the agreements, further action can be taken to correct or sanction the employee.

Request days off

If your employee is ill and requests days off, it is important to be understanding as an employer. Illness can cause a lot of stress and it's important that your employee has time to recover and return to work when he or she feels better.

As an employer, you have the responsibility to ensure that your employee receives appropriate support and guidance during his or her sick leave. Clearly discuss expectations with your employee and agree on when and how he or she should keep in touch.

Also, make sure you are aware of sick leave legislation and that you fill out the necessary papers and forms. This can prevent unnecessary problems from occurring.

By being understanding and supportive, you'll make sure your employee feels heard and supported during their sick leave and hopefully be able to recover quickly and get back to work.

Not at home during an (unscheduled) home visit

As an employer, it is important to be involved in the well-being of your employees. When a employee ill is, it is your responsibility to ensure that he or she receives the necessary care and support to recover.

If you suspect that a sick employee is not home during a scheduled home visit, it is important to talk to the employee. Perhaps there are circumstances that prevent him or her from being at home, but it may also be that the employee is not really ill and is trying to take advantage of the situation.

It is important to take this situation seriously and have an open conversation with the employee to find out the truth. As an employer, you have the opportunity to provide support and guidance in the event of illness, but you must be able to trust that the employee is honest about this.

You call your sick employee and hear noise

If you call to check how they're doing and you hear noises in the background, your employee may not be home and may not be really ill.

It is important to deal with this with empathy and understanding. Maybe your employee has a good reason to be somewhere else, such as picking up medication or visiting a doctor. But if you suspect that your employee is abusing sick leave, it's important to discuss this.

Don't immediately assume the worst and keep in mind that some employees may feel guilty about taking sick leave. Ask questions to understand why your employee isn't home and how they're doing. If you suspect abuse, discuss the consequences and possible solutions.

Appointment with the company doctor is canceled at the last minute

As an employer, it is important to take the well-being of your employees seriously. When an employee has an appointment with the company doctor, it is important that this appointment is fulfilled. However, it is possible that an employee cancels the appointment at the last minute.

As an employer, it is important to understand why the employee canceled the appointment. Is there a good reason for the cancellation? Perhaps the employee is suffering from a sudden illness or a personal emergency.

If there is no good reason for the cancellation, it is important to talk to the employee and make it clear that the appointment with the company doctor is important for his or her health and safety at work. It is also important to emphasize that canceling an appointment without a good reason can have consequences, such as missing important information or a delay in the recovery process.

Seems to earn extra money elsewhere during their illness

As an employer, it is important to trust that your employees will fully focus on their recovery during illness. However, sometimes it can happen that you suspect that a sick employee is earning extra money elsewhere during his or her sick leave. This can be frustrating for the employer, especially if the employee is paid for his or her absence.

If you suspect that your employee is working elsewhere while on sick leave, it's important to take this seriously and take action. You can talk to the employee about this and possibly launch an investigation to find out the truth. However, it is important to do this in a respectful way and respect the employee's privacy.

It is important to maintain trust between employer and employee, but at the same time, it is also important to protect the integrity of the company.

Deployment of a detective agency

In case of suspicions of absenteeism fraud can Business Investigation of  Haagsch Recherchebureau offer a solution. Through open sources, research and observations, suspicions can be confirmed or debunked. However, as a renowned detective agency, we always recommend that you start the conversation first. Sometimes suspicions turn out to be unfounded; in such a case, calling in a detective agency can result in a significant breach of trust. Does the conversation lead to nothing? Or do you get answers that don't match the image?

We are happy to advise you without obligation and completely free of charge, after all, every case is different. We can well imagine that you find it exciting to hire a detective agency, after all, you don't do that every day. An informal one consultation therefore, if necessary, takes place on neutral ground and the contact takes place via your preferred channel. This so that the other party does not get any of the contact you have with us. For example, we can be reached via WhatsApp, phone, email and in person.

About the Author
As a former Interim Innovation Consultant at the National Police, Jan-Paul Kreukniet has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of research and safety. He knows better than anyone how important it is to keep innovating and keeping up with the latest developments in his field.

Haagsch Recherchebureau is therefore constantly investing in new tools and technology to increase the quality of investigative investigations.

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