Misuse of maternity benefits

As a HR student I think there may be any one solution from the following...........

1. Involve someone who is her (the pregnent lady) peer/coleague/friend in same office, who can give you the update and if it is proved fake information then she will be punished too (friend).

2. Maintain any authorised doctor.

3. make your rule stronger.

Ok.. Coming to the maternity Leave issue..

I will let u know how it works in tamilnadu govt offices..

Maternity leave can be applied just twice in a whole employment period(life time) by a female(2 child govt norm)

Maternity leave is for around 3 months.

The concept of maternity leave is to that leave be taken atleast 1 month before child borth ie 8th month of pregnancy and 1 month after child birth totalling 3 months.

No where I have heard when a female becomes pregant she can take maternity leave.

And no where, or in any company does the maternity leave policy says that when a female employee becomes pregnant she is eligible for leave.. but rather everything applies during child birth period...

Change your company policy or notify every body what maternity leave means..

Hi Sonal!
Well the only way you can challenge this is by sending them to your company Doctor for examination and verification of the reports submitted. Because if the company Doctor verifies it to be true, then you can not do anything.
That seems to be the only way you can filter. But pl Sonal be sure that in this process you do not get harsh with innocent people who are actually in need of this leave. We in HR need to be empathetic to peoples genuine personal needs.

regards,
Jyotsna.

Dear Sonal,

This is really a nasty thing and I can unsderstand your situation being HR. The best thing is amend your maternity policy and appoint one lady Dr( prefrebably) as a consultant ( pay her as on case to case basis so that no extra overhead to company) once the employee submit any report of such kind from his physician then to avial maternity policy benifit you can ask to visit this Dr. which will do your job more easy.

Regards,

Mona

Such cases, if occurring frequently can be referred to your company's medical board (if one exist) or to Govt. Medical colleges for confirmation.

I am really surprised that how can you say that they are coming up with the Certificates of Maternity. Firstly Maternity cannot be granted in the initial days of conception. Maternity leaves can only be claimed either 6 weeks before the deliver and 6 weeks after the delivery as per rule. Now Leaves related to abortion. If you have any doubts, does your organisation has some tie up with some hospitals or doctors, if yes kindly ask the lady to do the company provided doctor or hospital and get the same vetted from her. or else make an inquiry into the incident and contact and consult the doctor from where she has produced the certificate. Hope it clarifies

Normally, the Pregnancy women will take the scan test if they feel symptoms initially. If the employee ask for maternity leave you have to ask the medical report else do cross check with their husband/ friends/ relatives only.You can also ask the medical certificate[scan report] which is attested by doctor

Hi Sonal,
Let's be specific in this case of this naughty lady...

1. Define panel of some reputed hospital/doctors enlisted by your organisation.
2. Limit the No. of occasions to a maximum of two.
3. 6 or 8 weeks prior the DOD and rest post DOD is normally granted. This is the time even a layman can point out a lady to be carrying or not.
4. You can also take that lady in confidence by conselling and making her believe that these kinds of activities are bringing a bad reputation to her name and are sure to spoil a few more. Motivate her to the extent that she changes her attitude. I am more than positive that she is a mis-guided missile and can be brought on track by right kind of counselling. Also, praise her openly in presence of her colleagues but criticise (if at all it is required) when no one is around. You will see the miracle happening... It's ultimately we how we nurture our employees... Nobody is bad by birth.

I expect you to give me feedback, if at all you can...

Hi Sonal

If an employee is supposedly pregnant,wouldnt her stomach be a bit big, i mean if she is a slim person claiming to be pregnant, you would know that she is lying, or if she is a bit of healthy(big) person, and claims to have a misscarriage her stomach would have gone in, these are things that you should be looking at, and also when an employee applies for benefits she should show proof from a gyneacologist, as to when is her expected due date.

Hi Sonal,

Thanks for initiating a very good case study. This has certainly made most of the members to think and respond.

I too agree with most of them on getting a second opinion on the reports submitted and if the person is faking, then take necessary and appropriate disciplinary action, so that this sets a precedence and you don't end being conned.

Have a policy in place, so that this does not re occur.

Hope this clarifies.

Regards
K.S.Chakradhar Reddy.