Many council employees throughout Britain have received compensation for holding several full-time positions simultaneously in different local authorities.
The i Paper
can reveal.
According to
Freedom of Information
Based on responses and other public documents, at least 37 instances of what is referred to as “polygamous work” have been recognized by nine councils since the start of the pandemic.
In an instance, a council worker based in London appeared to simultaneously occupy as many as four positions within various local authorities, though the specifics of these roles have not been revealed.
Charges of fraud related to individuals practicing polygamy who were employed by at least three city councils have been filed, resulting in one confirmed conviction so far. Various municipal administrations have attributed this issue to the rise of remote work practices.
A report issued by York Council states: “It appears that enhanced remote and flexible work arrangements have allowed certain employees to secure and keep positions with multiple employers simultaneously.”
The report warned this could lead to the “wrong people occupying positions of trust and responsibility”.
Polygamous working could cost taxpayers millions
Activists think the revelations about individuals practicing polygamy within local government positions are merely scratching the surface, and they worry that these cases might number in the hundreds, involving potentially millions of pounds from councils.
taxpayer funds being squandered as expenses increase during reductions in public services
.
Elliot Keck, who leads campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, stated: “Given that councils acknowledge remote work policies may invite misuse, taxpayers will understandably feel outraged knowing certain employees seem to exploit this lax monitoring environment.”
Local authorities need to take control, strengthen surveillance, and guarantee that individuals deceiving the public are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice.
Neil O’Brien, the Conservative opposition spokesperson for education, stated that these disclosures sparked concerns regarding inefficiency and wastage within the public sector.
He stated: “It is remarkable that individuals can handle numerous roles simultaneously, which underscores the astonishing inadequacy of performance oversight within these institutions.”
If individuals can accomplish tasks within roughly one-third of their usual time, this prompts numerous queries regarding whether genuine efforts are being made to enhance value for taxpayer dollars.
As influencers on platforms such as TikTok and Reddit have been sharing tips on how to balance multiple jobs and deceive managers into thinking employees are diligently working, even employing artificial intelligence techniques has become part of their advice.
A single employee at Barnsley Council faced legal action after holding down two positions, each offering a 37-hour workweek, over a span of ten months.
He was brought before the courts and admitted guilt to three charges of fraud, which resulted in a loss of nearly £17,000 for taxpayers. The judge handed down a sentence of 12 months in prison.
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request, Barnet Council reported that they looked into 18 instances involving polygamous work over the past three years. As a result, three agency workers were prosecuted, and multiple others were fired.
Barnet Council did not respond to a request for comment.
The most recent report from the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), which operates under the Cabinet Office to uncover fraud in both private and public sectors, revealed 23 instances of multiple job holding within a trial conducted across several London boroughs. The investigation also uncovered approximately £500,000 in salary overpayments over just a few months.
A social worker who worked an equal number of hours for two nearby councils was discovered during a video conference with employees from one council when they overheard him providing services for another local authority.
Social Work News
It has been reported that the employee was let go from their positions at both jobs and informed about an upcoming fitness to practise hearing. They mentioned, “I had taken up two roles simultaneously. Nonetheless, it should be pointed out that in Hampshire, I had just started my second week and was still undergoing training/orientation.”
Anti-fraud organizations and government contractors have indicated that local authorities should be cautious of employees who disable their cameras during virtual meetings when working remotely. They also expressed frustration with individuals exploiting remote work policies to engage in fraudulent activities.
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The Croydon Council, which terminated an employee for engaging in multiple tasks simultaneously, cautioned in a public council agenda about “unethical behavior going undetected” due to hybrid work arrangements.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Croydon is taking a proactive approach on detecting possible signs of dual working.”
Chris Keesing, who chairs the London Boroughs’ FraudInvestigators’ Group and collaborated with the NFI, stated, “Securing the public funds is crucial. Those perpetrating such fraud are diverting resources away from individuals within the community who genuinely require them.”
We discovered assets valued at half a million pounds within just a few months in London, so the total could reach millions.
A representative from the government stated: “Our administration is taking strict measures against fraudulent activities wherever they occur. The specialized anti-fraud units are collaborating with various governmental organizations nationwide to assist in identifying and pursuing individuals who engage in deceitful practices by occupying multiple positions.”
It is crucial that we safeguard taxpayer funds, and we will keep intensifying our endeavors to combat fraud as we restore public services and implement our strategy for transformation.
The Haringey Council did not reply to requests for comments. However, a representative from the Barnsley council stated, “We, as an administrative body, treat all instances of fraud with extreme seriousness and have taken firm actions accordingly.”
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