Employers are often confronted with suspicions that employees who report sick are not, in fact, sick at all. Sometimes these suspicions are aroused by the comment of other employees who do not like having to cover for someone unjustly.

As with other investigations, our inquiries into these suspicions have one aim: to establish the truth. If someone is indeed abusing sick leave, it is important to the employer that it is ascertained as quickly as possible. If they do not, others may think they can do the same thing.

All too often these suspicions are well founded. Employees who have reported sick are working for a competitor or on their own account. Their employer is serving as a safety net if things do not work out, and paying for the privilege!

It is equally important to ascertain that a person really is sick, or at least is not involved in competitive activities,  so that the suspicions which may be poisoning the working atmosphere can be removed.

A written report of these investigations is always submitted and where possible supported by photographic evidence. If necessary this can be used before an industrial tribunal.

©All rights GHHSR