Being an employer means you have to deal with several things constantly. This includes managing employees, looking after their health and safety, and keeping on top of your obligations. You also need to be on the lookout for any issues or challenges that may appear during managing employees. This can be performance management, probation or even something serious such as falsifying documents.
In this guide for employers, we explain what is falsifying documents, the legislation around it, your responsibilities as an employer, and how Peninsula can help you. Please note that the information is general and not intended to replace advice. If you need help understanding aspects of falsifying documents, please consult a professional.
Falsifying documents
Falsifying documents is when employees make a document appear to be genuine. Falsifying a document can include tampering with it, altering it, or modifying it without permission or authorisation to do so. Employees may falsify documents to get more overtime, increase their bonus, or to get higher expense claims. They may alter timecards (or time clocks) to change their working hours or tamper with financial documents, inventory records or sales targets. Employees can also falsify documents such as resumes to be considered as a potential candidate by recruiters.
Some examples of falsifying documents include:
- Altering the date of a medical certificate to make a worker’s compensation claim.
- Altering the driver’s license as proof of their age to enter an establishment.
- Have in possession a passport which indicated their photograph but a different name.
Sometimes employers will falsify records and documents to make their company look more attractive, for example, to lenders. In some cases, an employee has been forced to falsify records under duress from others in the company.
Offence of possession of falsified documents
Falsification of document offences covers the creation, production of copies, or use of a copied or original falsified document. They can also be charged with this offence if they had in possession of a falsified document and had intended to use the falsified document.
Each offence requires that the accused intended to convince someone that the falsified document was genuine and that the convinced person would do, or not do, something because they accepted the document as genuine.
Penalties for falsifying documents
Making false representations on the truthfulness of the contents can have serious consequences.
There are penalties that the Court can impose for this charge:
- Imprisonment.
- Community Corrections Orders.
- Fine.
- Adjourned Undertaking.
- Discharge.
- Dismissal.
Workplace policies
As an employer you should have a policy to handle and manage claims of falsifying documents at the workplace. This policy should be written and clearly communicated with all employees.
Clearly explain the potential consequences of falsifying documents in your employee handbook, including potential ramifications for their employment. The ramifications can include warnings, disciplinary action, or dismissal. This process should be laid out carefully and clearly in the handbook and updated when necessary. It should explain the types of documents in question and what is considered as falsifying.
If an employee does falsify documents and you would like to address that conduct, make sure you always follow proper procedures. Read our guide on disciplinary action to understand more about potential processes.
Implement effective policies with Peninsula
Running a business involves managing multiple obligations and keeping track of your employees and their entitlements. At Peninsula, we know the needs of small businesses and employers. Our expert advisers can help you manage an employee who is falsifying documents.