Post by Bonobo on Feb 6, 2024 21:48:27 GMT 1
Polish Social Security called ZUS pays compensations to employees who go on a sick leave, in companies both private or state. However, ZUS has the right to check if people do not abuse the benefits And it turns out in some cases that they do. Sometimes in am amusing way:
biznes.interia.pl/praca/news-kontrole-zwolnien-lekarskich-przez-zus-balowanie-na-weselach,nId,7315431
The Social Insurance Institution is statutorily obliged to control sick leave and has just summarized the results of the inspections conducted in 2023. Last year, ZUS checked 461.2 thousand. sick leave. As a result, he questioned 28.9 thousand sickness benefits in the amount of PLN 29 million 273 thousand PLN - informs ZUS spokesman Paweł Żebrowski.
These included both inspections of the correctness of incapacity for work, i.e. verification by a ZUS medical examiner whether the person on sick leave is still sick and the leave is justified, as well as inspections of the insured regarding the correctness of using sick leave from work in accordance with their purpose. Such control of the use of sick leave may also be carried out by employers who register more than 20 insured persons for sickness insurance.
People who improperly use sick leave must take into account that they will lose the right to sickness benefits for the entire period of controlled leave. In such situations, ZUS suspends the payment of the benefit and, if it has already been paid, orders its return.
What did ZUS inspectors do when they caught sick people on sick leave? - There is a known case of an insured person who was on sick leave and during that time she got married and participated in a wedding she organized. There are still people who, instead of regaining the ability to work, go on holiday abroad. ZUS received information from an employee on sick leave that he would be in one of the European capitals for a few days and at the same time provided the address of the hotel he was going to - says the spokesman.
During rehabilitation, a man performed renovation work on a multi-family building, and the benefit was granted due to a spine disorder. Even though the insured person was seen by people inspecting the building being renovated, he denied that he worked. - ZUS did not believe the explanations and denied the right to rehabilitation benefits. Another man, during his leave, helped organize cultural events, e.g. concerts and festivals. Another insured person, instead of resting, worked as a DJ in a club. We also know of a case where, while on sick leave, the insured took part in: an electoral commission, a regatta, a picket at the office, picking cauliflowers from their own field or helping another person build a hen house - adds Żebrowski.
The list of violations of sick leave rules identified by ZUS is long, e.g. someone was taking part in training and taking flights at the time. Another posted photos and entries on a social networking site, which show that he attended clubs and consumed alcohol during his illness.
A man on sick leave was selling berries on the roadside and when caught red-handed, he denied his identity. He lost his benefit. He had to pay back the benefit, among others: a man who, during his sick leave, went on a romantic trip to Paris and reported the trip on a social networking site. An employee whose employer caught him running his own business with the same profile as his employer, instead of recovering on sick leave, also lost the right to benefits.
While on sick leave, a patient took part in a table tennis tournament, the anniversary celebration of a hunting club and a trip organized by a trade union organization. A doctor who was himself temporarily disabled from work issued sick leave to other patients.
Another insured person was looking for a new job while receiving the benefit. At that time, he took part in the recruitment process and managed to pass it successfully. However, he had to obtain a certificate from an occupational medicine doctor confirming that he had regained his ability to work and, unfortunately, he lost the right to receive benefits.
ZUS's practice shows that there are still cases of councilors who, while on sick leave, take part in municipal council sessions, supervisory board meetings or special events. However, the most common reason is to work during sick leave for another entity and to perform some work duties remotely during sick leave, such as sending messages by e-mail or logging in to the system.
biznes.interia.pl/praca/news-kontrole-zwolnien-lekarskich-przez-zus-balowanie-na-weselach,nId,7315431
The Social Insurance Institution is statutorily obliged to control sick leave and has just summarized the results of the inspections conducted in 2023. Last year, ZUS checked 461.2 thousand. sick leave. As a result, he questioned 28.9 thousand sickness benefits in the amount of PLN 29 million 273 thousand PLN - informs ZUS spokesman Paweł Żebrowski.
These included both inspections of the correctness of incapacity for work, i.e. verification by a ZUS medical examiner whether the person on sick leave is still sick and the leave is justified, as well as inspections of the insured regarding the correctness of using sick leave from work in accordance with their purpose. Such control of the use of sick leave may also be carried out by employers who register more than 20 insured persons for sickness insurance.
People who improperly use sick leave must take into account that they will lose the right to sickness benefits for the entire period of controlled leave. In such situations, ZUS suspends the payment of the benefit and, if it has already been paid, orders its return.
What did ZUS inspectors do when they caught sick people on sick leave? - There is a known case of an insured person who was on sick leave and during that time she got married and participated in a wedding she organized. There are still people who, instead of regaining the ability to work, go on holiday abroad. ZUS received information from an employee on sick leave that he would be in one of the European capitals for a few days and at the same time provided the address of the hotel he was going to - says the spokesman.
During rehabilitation, a man performed renovation work on a multi-family building, and the benefit was granted due to a spine disorder. Even though the insured person was seen by people inspecting the building being renovated, he denied that he worked. - ZUS did not believe the explanations and denied the right to rehabilitation benefits. Another man, during his leave, helped organize cultural events, e.g. concerts and festivals. Another insured person, instead of resting, worked as a DJ in a club. We also know of a case where, while on sick leave, the insured took part in: an electoral commission, a regatta, a picket at the office, picking cauliflowers from their own field or helping another person build a hen house - adds Żebrowski.
The list of violations of sick leave rules identified by ZUS is long, e.g. someone was taking part in training and taking flights at the time. Another posted photos and entries on a social networking site, which show that he attended clubs and consumed alcohol during his illness.
A man on sick leave was selling berries on the roadside and when caught red-handed, he denied his identity. He lost his benefit. He had to pay back the benefit, among others: a man who, during his sick leave, went on a romantic trip to Paris and reported the trip on a social networking site. An employee whose employer caught him running his own business with the same profile as his employer, instead of recovering on sick leave, also lost the right to benefits.
While on sick leave, a patient took part in a table tennis tournament, the anniversary celebration of a hunting club and a trip organized by a trade union organization. A doctor who was himself temporarily disabled from work issued sick leave to other patients.
Another insured person was looking for a new job while receiving the benefit. At that time, he took part in the recruitment process and managed to pass it successfully. However, he had to obtain a certificate from an occupational medicine doctor confirming that he had regained his ability to work and, unfortunately, he lost the right to receive benefits.
ZUS's practice shows that there are still cases of councilors who, while on sick leave, take part in municipal council sessions, supervisory board meetings or special events. However, the most common reason is to work during sick leave for another entity and to perform some work duties remotely during sick leave, such as sending messages by e-mail or logging in to the system.