As sick leave fraud concerns grow in France, private detective Fabrice Lehmann was recently spotted tailing a suspected abuser of sick leave as he left his suburban Paris home for work.

Since 1994, Lehmann has increasingly focused on tracking white-collar employees, particularly those in the financial sector amid rising suspicions of fraudulent absenteeism.

While it’s difficult to gauge the full extent of sick leave fraud in France, experts report a significant increase with sick leave rates rising by 60% since 2012. This surge now costs the French economy over €10 billion annually, a burden that comes at a time of ongoing budget crises.

Former Prime Minister François Bayrou, who was recently lost his position, had aimed to address these rising costs as part of a broader plan to cut €5 billion from healthcare spending by 2026.

The National Health Insurer in France recently reported preventing €42 million in sick leave fraud last year, more than double the previous year’s total.

However, this figure may not reflect the issue’s true scale, as the insurer only intensified its anti-fraud measures in 2022. Many audits are carried out by private detectives hired by companies suspicious of employee behavior.

Detectives like Baptiste Pannaud have seen their sick leave-related contracts double in the past four years. Lehmann revealed that some targets are suspected of working for competitors or using their sick leave to start their own businesses. His collaborator, Patrice Le Bec, noted instances of individuals signing off sick only to travel directly to vacation destinations.

French social security provides up to €41.47 per day for sick leave, which can last up to three years, while employers often supplement employees’salaries during this period. A recent report found that public sector employees took an average of 14.5 days off sick in 2022, compared to 11.7 days for private sector workers.

Bayrou stated that inspections indicated half of sick leave claims were unjustified, calling this situation unacceptable. Private detective Bruno Boivin criticised government promises to curb fraud, claiming that despite building cases against fraudulent employees there was little accountability.

Experts suggest that France’s rigid management culture, characterised by high work pressure and a lack of empathy, contributes to absenteeism. Economist Jean-Claude Delgenes noted that the current system fails to meet employees’ needs for a more collaborative work environment.

While some, like emergency doctor Sabrina Ali Benali, argue that claims of widespread fraud are exaggerated, the issue remains contentious.

As Lehmann followed his target on to a commuter train, he witnessed firsthand the challenges of tracking those suspected of abusing sick leave, culminating in a near-miss when the subject evaded him in the busy Paris subway system.