False Sick Leave | Falsifying Illness

The “yellow slip” continues to be a popular option among employees—but how can employers prove that workers are faking illness? For court-admissible verification of feigned illnesses, our IHK-certified detectives in the Rhine-Neckar region are your competent contacts: +49 621 9535 4001.

A Few Days Off? Vacation Made Easy

The motives for falsifying sick leave vary—from lack of motivation at work to attending a preferred sports match, a concert, or even Grandpa’s 80th birthday. However, taking official leave for such reasons is often limited, and short-notice absences are not always feasible. Sick leave offers an attractive alternative for employees, as it involves no financial loss, does not reduce vacation entitlement, and seemingly leaves the employer with no recourse. Seemingly—because the Kurtz Detective Agency Mannheim regularly uncovers falsified illness cases in a court-admissible manner.

Of course, not every sick employee is shirking work. Many employees are loyal and honest, while others only occasionally take advantage of false sick leave in an inconspicuous manner. However, some are tempted to repeat the behavior once it “works.” Repeat offenders are eventually noticed, and suspicion arises due to unusual statements, last-minute denied vacation requests, knowledge of a pending separation, rumors, or evidence of undeclared secondary employment.

Potentially Serious Side Effects of Sick Leave Fraud

The damage extends beyond the temporary loss of workforce. Colleagues must compensate for the absent employee, leading to stress and overwork. Additional genuine sick leaves may result, creating a chain reaction. Furthermore, a “successful” case of falsified sick leave can quickly become known internally, motivating other employees to imitate the behavior.

Our experienced business detectives for Ludwigshafen, Speyer, Worms, and the wider Rhine-Neckar region are happy to assist in legally documenting the employee’s misconduct. Please send a case description via email to kontakt@kurtz-detektei-mannheim.de or call us for a non-binding consultation at +49 621 9535 4001.

Observations by the Kurtz Business Detective Agency Rhine-Neckar

In suspected cases, monitoring the allegedly dishonest employee during the period of sick leave is recommended. Are they engaging in activities incompatible with recovery? Attending concerts, sports events, or other leisure activities instead of resting at home? Taking a short vacation? Or performing unregistered secondary employment (moonlighting)? Observations usually allow such activities to be verified within a few days. However, if the employee uses sick leave to stay mostly at home, little can be done, as clandestine photography within private premises is not legally permissible and cannot be used as evidence in court.

Thanks to years of experience, our Mannheim private detectives are capable of successfully concluding even very challenging cases, provided legal methods are used. We are happy to advise you in an initial consultation on the specific possibilities for legally documenting falsified sick leave in your company. For inquiries, please use our contact form or call: +49 621 9535 4001.