Why is nobody talking about employment fraud?

Abstract

Purpose

A hinderance to businesses across the UK, employment fraud and absenteeism are phenomenons that need to be addressed. Fraud is a topic that remains largely unexplored for the HR profession, and covert surveillance emerges as a brilliant and effective solution to tackle the challenges that hundreds of businesses face when trying to clamp down on employment fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides insight for HR professionals as to how employee surveillance can be harnessed safely to help tackle employment fraud and absenteeism, whilst unlocking a productive and healthy environment.

Findings

Public sector organisations face a particularly significant challenge when grappling with absenteeism, with absence rates nearly double that of the private sector. A key focal point of this research revolves around the startling fact that absence rates in the public sector are alarmingly high. Still, robust investigations into these matters are seldom conducted, leaving the door wide open for fraudulent activities to persist. Covert surveillance offers a proactive approach to identify and address the root causes of almost endemic absenteeism, ensuring a healthier and more efficient workplace.

Originality/value

By embracing the power of covert surveillance, businesses not only protect their legitimate interests but also contribute to a workplace environment that thrives on transparency, honesty and loyalty. This study effectively outlines how HR professionals can effectively deploy covert surveillance to ensure they are staying within the guidelines of the law, whilst still clamping down on bad actors and protecting their bottom line.

Citation

Bescoby, R. (2024), "Why is nobody talking about employment fraud?", Strategic HR Review, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-03-2024-0022