munschausens by proxy??

[thatsthewayitgoes]

After some HR advice. We run a small business. A member of staff has always had "dramas" but recently her mum developed a terminal illness and has been unconscious for the last couple of weeks. It transpires today that this is not actually the case. She is in fact alive and well. Employee didn't come in today (and didn't call) hence I started to contact her emergency contacts. How do I deal with this? Thanks.

[TheUnsullied]

HR advice? Lay off the armchair diagnoses and never say to her that she "clearly has mental health issues". What you've described is nothing like munschausens and is remarkably similar to the typical behaviour of someone who's weaving a sob story to excuse poor professional behaviour.

That said, your OP doesn't say she's used these sob stories to get out of work, just that the office drama llama hasn't turned up to work today and you've discovered a previous story is a lie. There's also the chance of course that this employees mother didn't feel her medical issues were any of your business.

[Shakey15000]

How did you find out about her Mum? As a previous poster said, is there someone else she sees as "Mum"?

Not disbelieving you, just urging to have watertight case. How awful.

[thatsthewayitgoes]

She denied it at first but then faced with the evidence admitted she had lied. She then lied again about her reasons why.

Resigned with immediate effect.

The rest of her team are devastated at her deception. Cannot believe some people can stoop so low.

[lougle]

Good result. Some people have no problem with lying. People who do have a problem with lying will find it very hard to understand and feel very betrayed. But those who don't have a problem with lying just take it all in their stride.

[CountryLovingGirl]

She is lying to get time off work. The fact that you have found out about it means that it is time for a disciplinary meeting, I would confront her about it, in private, and see what her side of the story is but it's misconduct and her colleagues shouldn't have to put up with that.