End of Shirkers: Detectives in London Uncover Employees Faking Sick, Employers Flooded with Requests
Investigations into long-term sick leave and violations of teleworking rules are increasing in Britain, as large companies seek evidence of employees they believe are defrauding the system, even hiring detectives to determine whether their employees' absences are justified.
According to the Telegraph, although private detectives are usually associated with cases of international diplomacy or high-risk political intrigue, a new type of client is increasingly turning to their services: Britain’s biggest employers, who request to identify workers avoiding work or pretending to be ill.
Researchers across the country report being inundated with requests from employers seeking to expose employees they suspect of abusing the system and defrauding their businesses.
Timothy Burchell, head of a private investigation firm based in London, says he is taking on an increasing number of cases related to long-term sick leave and teleworking abuse.
Clients Include London’s Biggest Companies
According to him, his clients include some of the biggest names in the City of London’s financial hub, as well as well-known British law firms, although he does not reveal the companies he works with.
“We had a request from a client for long-term surveillance of an employee who had been absent from work for a long period due to an alleged musculoskeletal injury. The employee had been on sick leave for at least six months,” he says.
“We located him about four months later and he was still claiming to have a serious disability. We watched him for three or four days, and during that period we saw him visiting gardening stores, buying large bags of compost, and placing them with great ease in the back of his car.”
Burchell also describes another case: “One of our clients in the tech sector asked us to monitor a relatively senior executive who claimed he was unable to work due to a serious neck injury. We observed that he went to work every day at one of our client’s main competitors.”
Teleworking at the Center of Investigations
The increasing use of private investigators to monitor employees is attributed, according to them, to the more relaxed approach now prevailing regarding office presence.
Britain has long been the European country with the highest prevalence of teleworking, with employees working an average of 1.8 days per week from home.
Many companies have attempted to bring employees back to the office, believing that this will ensure productivity and keep them competitive against their rivals.
However, employers find it difficult to enforce a full return to office work, as employees have become accustomed to the flexibility that teleworking offers.
They Say They’re Working but Go Out for a Walk
Private investigators say the problem is not limited to those who walk their dog or spend a bit of time exercising during the day.
“Some say they work in the evenings, while in reality they have gone out for dinner,” says Burchell. “Others spend excessive time on lunch breaks or do their shopping. In some cases, they are gone the whole day.”
“We Can’t Take on All Cases”
Aaron Bond, director of the private investigation firm Bond Rees, says that 90% of the cases his company handles come from employers and concern either employees working from home or people on sick leave.
Surge After Covid-19
As he notes, abuse of sick leave is a long-standing phenomenon, but cases related to teleworking “shot up after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“We are booked four weeks in advance, and the phenomenon is so common that we practically cannot take on every case,” he says.
“Demand has remained steady since the pandemic period, but it is on an upward trend. I have never had more work than I do today.”
The most recent case he handled involved an employee of a large private equity firm in Croydon, south London, who worked in the technology sector.
According to Bond, the man had been on sick leave for eleven months, claiming he had such severe musculoskeletal problems that he could not sit at his desk.
“They knew he was heavily into fitness, and a colleague had reported that he was giving training sessions at a local gym,” he explains.
He Regularly Visited a Local Gym
“Indeed, he was moving around normally and regularly visited a local gym. We watched him for a week, and in the end, he ended up giving personal training sessions to me and a colleague. In fact, he was explaining how intensively he was preparing for triathlon competitions.”
Increase in Sick Leave and Government Intervention
Data from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) show that in the last year, 11 million sickness absence certificates were issued, a number 20% higher than in 2021.
As part of efforts to address this sick leave culture, the British government has implemented a pilot program that provides additional support to employees on sick leave and integrates them into special “return-to-work plans.”
Mike LaCorte, president of the Association of British Investigators, argues that hiring a professional private investigator is a last resort for employers.
Evidence of Misconduct
As he explains, such assignments are usually made following a complaint or other indications, meaning employers are almost certain of wrongdoing but need evidence.
“First, an assessment of the case is required. There must be some complaint or specific incidental evidence to justify the investigation, so that its legality and proportionality can be examined,” he says.
And he concludes: “I doubt that any serious employer would monitor a random employee just because they called in sick for one day. Investigations begin when there is a clear and repeated pattern of behavior.”
Source: Proto Thema
