Monday, September 06, 2010
How can you tell if an employee is not genuinely sick when fake Fit-Notes, claiming to be authentic-looking replicas of the genuine forms, are being sold on the internet for as little as £10.00. The website Doctorsnotestore.com is selling fake versions of fit notes, described as "authentic-looking replica doctor's sick notes or medical certificates, written on official doctors' notepaper, with real stamps". They even have a 'buy one, get one free' offer - "have a spare one to fill in yourself at a later date - you never know when you'll have to explain your absence again". The fake fit-notes are delivered in 48-hours, and employees can have their notes "stamped" as having been issued by any medical centre - NHS or private - or any dental practice in the UK. They even sell fake appointment letters. Many believe that many medical certificates produced to employers during the football World Cup in Africa were false, but most employers did not bother to check them. How can you deal with an employee you suspect is not genuinely ill? If you are suspicious of any fit-note, call the surgery that issued the note and check that it was indeed signed by the doctor named on the note, or Refer the employee to an indpendent occupational health adviser or doctor. Warn staff that anyone found using a fake note will face disciplinary action - and that they could be committing fraud. Take professional advice before discplinary action. With the right advice you can even dismiss an employee who is still off work "sick".