Feigning Illness | Sick Leave Fraud

The economy in the federal state of Bremen is growing, as the figures show: the two-city state, consisting of the capital city and Bremerhaven, generated a gross domestic product of EUR 30.24 billion in 2014, an increase of 2.8 percent compared with the previous year, thus ranking second among all German federal states in terms of GDP per capita after Hamburg. Alongside new economic sectors and companies, this growth also brings many jobs and employees. On the one hand, this is good for Bremen, but for companies it inevitably also presents a control problem, because far too many employees are not particularly concerned with the well-being of their employer. Continued payment of wages fraud is among the most common offences committed by employees in Germany. Our commercial detective agency for Bremen, Bremerhaven and Lower Saxony identifies the perpetrators with evidence admissible in court: +49 421 3679 9066.

When Work Becomes a Secondary Matter

First of all: the greater part of the workforce is honest. Most employees do not deceive or steal from their employers, but the few who do not even harbour a minimally loyal attitude towards their breadwinner are often very cunning. Identifying such employees is part of the daily work of our detectives in Bremen.

In the meantime, it appears to have become common practice for many employees to obtain sick notes at all kinds of opportunities. This bad habit is widespread throughout Germany and must therefore even be factored into corporate calculations, as it has almost become part of normal working life. According to a statistical survey, 40 percent of Germans are said to have taken at least one “sick day off”, and one must additionally assume a high number of unreported cases, as many perpetrators will not boast about their offences. There is no shortage of occasions: celebrations within the family or circle of friends, the desire for an extended weekend, a hangover after a night of heavy drinking and, last but not least, hobbies, whether one’s own or those of one’s children.

Surveillance as a Means of Proof

It is certainly commendable to accompany and support one’s daughter at a ballet performance or riding tournament, just as it is to cheer on one’s son at a football match. However, there are holiday days for such occasions, should the event coincide with working hours. Unfortunately, for many employees the love for their own child does not extend so far as to “sacrifice” a day of leave for it. Instead, they readily obtain a sick note, usually for more than just one day, from a trusted doctor and spend a pleasant time with their loved ones. In doing so, the delinquent causes damage not only to you as an employer, but also to the social security system and thus to the general public.

If you suspect one of your employees of engaging in activities incompatible with recovery during a period of sick leave, for example secondary employment, or of feigning an illness for a specific occasion, then contact the investigators at our detective agency in Bremen. We observe the suspect, document activities that violate the employment contract or speak against a genuine illness, and provide you with evidence admissible in court. Depending on the case, our private detectives will also advise you on the possibility of deploying an undercover detective as an employee within your company. Call us or send us an email at: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bremen.de.