Fraudulent Layoffs, Businessmen, and Private Investigators: "During My Leave, My Social Media Indicated a Holiday in Italy"
Rosario Santamaria, a businesswoman managing a team of 280 people, has accused many of her team members of being liars due to a high number of sick leaves. According to her, around 118 of her team are currently on sick leave, which has become a significant issue for her company.
The fraudulent sick leaves occur after employees become permanent, making it difficult to fire them. In an attempt to uncover the truth, Santamaria has hired a private detective, David Blanco, who clarified that their goal is not to prove everyone is a liar, but to highlight those who are not following the rules.
Blanco defended Spanish professionals against accusations of fraud on the program of Sonsoles Onega, which has been focusing on fraudulent sick leaves in Spain. The proliferation of sick leaves has led some business owners to doubt the validity of certain diagnoses and investigate.
Approximately 1.3 million workers are on sick leave in Spain every day, according to data shared on 'Y Ahora Sonsoles'. This issue is not unique to Santamaria's company, as Pepa Romero, the host of 'Y Ahora Sonsoles', mentioned various other cases of sick leave fraud. For instance, a worker on sick leave for liver problems was found drinking on a beer route, another with a temporary disability for a bunion was found dancing flamenco, and another with anxiety was found participating in a hiking course.
While specific data on the prevalence of sick leave fraud in Spain is limited, the available information suggests that it is a growing concern, similar to what is seen in neighbouring France, where 42 million euros of sick leave fraud were detected in 2024—2.4 times higher than in 2023.
In response to sick leave fraud, businesses and governments have taken various measures. In France, they have implemented a mandatory new standardized sick leave form designed to reduce falsification. Although there is no explicit mention of such initiatives in Spain, it would be consistent with broader European efforts to upgrade controls to combat fraud.
Spanish businesses, like those in other countries, likely adopt common fraud prevention methods such as verifying medical certificates, implementing stricter absence management policies, using digital systems for leave tracking, and collaborating with medical experts for validation. However, specific details about the measures taken by Spanish companies to address sick leave fraud were not found in the search results.
The overall European trend and French example indicate that sick leave fraud is a growing concern, and stricter controls and verification processes are key measures being employed to address it.
- The high number of sick leaves in Rosario Santamaria's company has led some business owners to question the validity of certain diagnoses, causing them to investigate further.
- In response to the growing issue of sick leave fraud, Spanish businesses may adopt measures such as verifying medical certificates, implementing digital systems for leave tracking, and collaborating with medical experts for validation.
- The French government has implemented a mandatory new standardized sick leave form to reduce falsification, a strategy that appears to be part of broader European efforts to combat sick leave fraud.
- The proliferation of mental health conditions used as reasons for sick leaves, like anxiety and depression, has raised concerns about the potential misuse of therapies and treatments for financial gain in both Spain and France.
