Fired for faking sick day?

ruggedtoast

A guy at work has been off for a few days. He has had his out of office on saying he's sick. He generally has a very good reputation I think, and is a nice guy.

Then today an email goes out from a manager saying he is leaving with immediate effect, and won't be back. No explanation given.

Someone else then tells me he's been seen by other people enjoying days out with his family, and has obviously been faking the sick days to get the time off.

He is a family man kind of guy who has a mortgage and kids, so probably hasn't run off backpacking in Nepal. Putting 2 & 2 together he's been canned for faking his sick days.

Is this possible? I thought you'd get a warning or something, or a lot of warnings, but my wife who worked in HR said it would basically be instant gross misconduct; the same as groping or punching a colleague.

Daedalus

It is gross misconduct. Deceit, potential fraud, it can damage the operations of the business etc.

denla

What kind of work does he do in the office, and what illness did he claim to suffer? If he can't work because his wrist is broken for example, he's still able to dine with his family if someone else feeds him.

ruggedtoast

Daedalus wrote: »

It is gross misconduct. Deceit, potential fraud, it can damage the operations of the business etc.

Yes, thats what my wife said. She said it's basically theft.

I'm just surprised someone with an otherwise exemplary record wouldn't get a second chance.

ruggedtoast

denla wrote: »

What kind of work does he do in the office, and what illness did he claim to suffer? If he can't work because his wrist is broken for example, he's still able to dine with his family if someone else feeds him.

I can't give too much away for obvious reasons but its office work in the public sector. I have no idea what he said was wrong with him. There has been flu going round and I think the general impression was that he had succumbed to that.

Daedalus

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Yes, thats what my wife said. She said it's basically theft.

I'm just surprised someone with an otherwise exemplary record wouldn't get a second chance.

Are they look to down size and he was the first to slip up? Particularly strict boss? Might want to set an example to everyone else in the office.

He got a a paid free day, so it would be theft. If someone lied to me personally that they were sick and needed the day off and they had lied I would probably sack them on the spot.

ruggedtoast

Daedalus wrote: »

Are they look to down size and he was the first to slip up? Particularly strict boss? Might want to set an example to everyone else in the office.

He got a a paid free day, so it would be theft. If someone lied to me personally that they were sick and needed the day off and they had lied I would probably sack them on the spot.

Guess thats what happened.

Once in another place I worked we interviewed for a new position and one of the guys who we saw had a pretty bad interview, then at the end when he got up he said:

"I've got loads of sick days on my record but I haven't really been sick, I've been taking them to go to job interviews"

He didn't get the job.

browneyedbazzi

ruggedtoast wrote: »

Guess thats what happened.

Once in another place I worked we interviewed for a new position and one of the guys who we saw had a pretty bad interview, then at the end when he got up he said:

"I've got loads of sick days on my record but I haven't really been sick, I've been taking them to go to job interviews"

He didn't get the job.

Telling an interviewer that you have a habit of lying to your employer and fiddling them out of sick pay isn't brilliant interview technique!

As for the chap at your work being seen out and about when he's off sick - I don't think that necessarily means he was 'faking' sick. Depending on the nature of the illness and his circumstances there may be quite legitimate reasons why he was out....but if he has been caught faking sick to take days off then I would think it qualifies and gross misconduct and warrants dismissal.

Daedalus

ruggedtoast wrote: »

"I've got loads of sick days on my record but I haven't really been sick, I've been taking them to go to job interviews"

He didn't get the job.

The thing is a lot of recruiters I have spoken to all come out with the same line 'Employers prefer candidates who are already working'. Yet how do they expect candidates who works office hours to come to an interview during office hours without a really nice boss or the more likely skiving.

missile

Daedalus wrote: »

....how do they expect candidates who works office hours to come to an interview during office hours without a really nice boss or the more likely skiving.

Take a days holiday or unpaid leave:A

I was on a skiing holiday in the USofA and met a chap who was on sick leave.

pinkshoes

If you're going to pull a sickie, don't get caught!