Lie Detectors To Crack Down On 'Sickies'

3:34pm UK, Monday May 12, 2008

Lie detectors could one day be used to spot people who are "pulling a sickie" from work.

The technology is already being used to identify people making fraudulent benefit claims.

After successful trials at seven councils, anti-fraud minister James Plaskitt announced plans to extend the scheme.

Now employers have given a cautious welcome to the idea of using the Voice Risk Analysis (VRA).

Susan Anderson, director of human resources policy at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said the technology could be very useful.

She said research from the CBI and insurance firm AXA showed that employers believe 12% of absence was not genuine.

These 'sickies' amounted to 21 million lost days every year, costing businesses £1.6bn

The technology works by identifying changes in a caller's voice which may indicate they are not telling the truth.

Lawrence Knowles, managing director of software and outsourcing firm Midland HR, told Personnel Today that VRA would soon be a useful tool in reducing sickness absence.

"If lie detectors can detect benefit fraud, then why not look at the application of the technology in absence management?" he said.

"If you know there is a lie detector on the other end of the phone, I'm pretty sure most people would think twice."

The debate comes after a report claimed most firms were hit by workers pulling a "sickie" last week because of the hot weather.

A survey of 7,000 employers showed that almost four out of five reported staff absences.