Some employees will go to great lengths to fake an injury and claim workers’ comp. In this case, the worker even damaged company property in his effort.
Glenn Jones of Cleveland has pleaded guilty to filing a false workers’ compensation claim, a first-degree misdemeanor. Security video shows Jones stomped on the floor to create a hole in a wooden floor the night before he said he was injured. The following day he lowered his foot into the floor and laid down.
Jones claims he suffered a number of injuries, but an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) and the video evidence confirmed those injuries didn’t occur as Jones claimed.
Jones’ original sentence of 180 days in jail was suspended. Instead, he’ll be on probation for a year and must perform 80 hours of community service. If he violates the terms of his probation or doesn’t perform the community service, he will serve the jail sentence.
The Ohio State Insurance Fund says Jones’ claim was dismissed before any benefits were paid to him. BWC began its investigation immediately after receiving allegations from his employer. “That fund is intended to care for workers who are truly injured,” said BWC CEO Steve Buehrer.
The BWC didn’t identify Jones’ employer.
For more “caught on video” workers’ comp cases, visit BWC’s YouTube webpage.
Since it was created, BWC’s special investigations department has identified $1.5 billion in savings. For every dollar spent on investigations, the department has identified an average of $8 in savings.
Have you ever experienced workers’ comp fraud at your workplace? You can tell us about it in the comments.
