Do you have indications that an employee is working (while on the sick leave) for another employer, for example? To put it another way, you have strong suspicions that unlawful sick leave is taking place. What do you do then?
Feel free to contact our sick-leave specialists
Contactform 088-2986600 info@hoffmann.nl
Conversations with our specialists are always confidential due to our professional secrecy.
Absenteeism policy
It is important as an organisation to have a clear sick leave policy; in fact, you are legally obliged to have one. The Occupational Health and Safety Service can advise you in creating one, and your organisation’s works council must agree to your policy. The policy is intended to contribute to the health and safety of your employees and is always tailor-made depending on the size of your company, its culture and so forth. You can use the policy to discuss with your employees how you as an organisation deal with sick leave. This will clarify when sick leave is justified or unjustified.
White, grey or black absenteeism
Different forms of absenteeism have been identified. Certain forms are also referred to in colours, namely ‘white’, ‘grey’ and ‘black’ absenteeism.
White absenteeism
When an employee is ill and has a medical reason for not being able to work. It is 100% certain that sick leave will be granted.
Grey absenteeism
With grey absenteeism, it is important to look at the possibilities. The employee has real complaints, but there are work possibilities. Grey absenteeism therefore requires regular consultation between the supervisor and the employee.
Black absenteeism
Black absenteeism is actually a form of fraud. An employee reports sick but is neither sick nor unfit for work; in other words, it is an unlawful report of illness. It is 100% certain that sick leave is not granted in this situation.
Preventing sick leave
Do you suspect black absenteeism? We advise you to first check what you can do yourself to become more certain. For instance, you can have a conversation with your employee about the (frequent) absenteeism. Perhaps the employee has private problems and you can help them solve them. Do the signals persist? Are your suspicions growing stronger? Then we would be glad to take that uncertainty away from you with an absenteeism check. An additional advantage of an absenteeism check is the signal you send to other employees—it has a strong preventive effect, inhibiting employees from unlawfully calling in sick.
Our approach: how does an absenteeism check work?
After we have coordinated a plan of action with you, we first conduct an informative investigation, followed by one or more surveillance sessions. Our investigators check whether the employee who reported sick is engaged in activities that do not fit the clinical profile or that do not comply with the agreements with the company doctor. They take discreet photos and videos and record their findings. In doing so, our investigators naturally comply with privacy laws and regulations.
You then receive a report with the results of our investigation. We also advise you on any follow-up steps you can take and how to proceed. You can use our investigation report as a basis for this.
Would you like additional information on sick-leave investigations?
Do you have questions or need non-binding advice to reduce sick leave fraud in your organisation? If so, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our specialists are at your service.
Our specialists would be pleased to assist you.
Or contact one of our consultants directly.
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