Being Pressurised to falsify documentation?

Sone

Sone

Sone

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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I have a massive problem at work. We should have done some work on a site back in Febuary. The guy doing the job got covid so we did the absolute legal minimum with the plan of going back to finish off the rest of the works. Now the customer is refusing to pay the invoice (and can't blame them around £12k) till they have the report. We never went back to finish. I have brought this issue up with line manager and director but still being pressured to produce a set of false results to satisfy the customer requirements and invoice. (This is things covered by HSE and a goverment regulatory authority so not something i take lightly plus reputation in the industry).

Just not sure what to do next.... anyone been in a similar situation?
 
^^^ yeah I'd speak to a solicitor specialising in employment issues.

I'd certainly push back and refuse it regardless in the meantime if they really want to send a client fraudulent paperwork then that's up to them, they can fill out the paperwork, they can't force you to do anything illegal.
 
Sone said:
I have a massive problem at work. We should have done some work on a site back in Febuary. The guy doing the job got covid so we did the absolute legal minimum with the plan of going back to finish off the rest of the works. Now the customer is refusing to pay the invoice (and can't blame them around £12k) till they have the report. We never went back to finish. I have brought this issue up with line manager and director but still being pressured to produce a set of false results to satisfy the customer requirements and invoice. (This is things covered by HSE and a goverment regulatory authority so not something i take lightly plus reputation in the industry).

Just not sure what to do next.... anyone been in a similar situation?
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Refuse. If it comes out (and chances are it will), then your manager and director will deny all knowledge and throw you under the bus as your name will be on the falsified paperwork. You could open yourself up to professional and legal action, losing your career and potentially your freedom if things are serious enough. At the very least you could end up blacklisted in your industry.

Keep a log of the timeline, and copies of any paper trail or emails off company servers.
 
As suggested do not do anything illegal no matter who asks for it.

This would also be cause for constructive dismissal should that be an outcome so again, as suggested, I would seek legal council on this one (can recommend one if you need help, but not cheap) should it get out of hand.

Whistle blowing type issue to me this sort of thing. Maybe stick it into HR, but KEEP AN AUDIT TRAIL!
 
Is it just you being pressured to do this? Otherwise do you have any sort of whistleblowing process? Where you could lodge it anonymously.
 
Personally I would refuse and insist things were done by the book. Whilst I can't tell exactly what your situation is, presumably this means your management will have to apologise to the customer, explain it was because of Covid related difficulties, and arrange for someone (you?) to go back and get the report done properly.
 
Two ways this goes: you get found out by the enforcing authorities and there’s a big legal case OR it’s kept in-house where they’ll use it as leverage against you.

Falsifying records is a sackable offence. You may be doing them a favour but they could also use it against you in future and throw you under the bus at the slightest hint of any issues.
 
horrible situation but ultimately you need to front this up with employer. If they are suggesting at the highest level (MD etc) to do what they say and make it up, then I'd be out as fast as you can. Also worth considering reporting this if you feel pressured to comply
 
Hmm sounds like a missed deliverable and the customer wants it for payment as per the commercial contract. The sales folk are simply pressuring for the payment as it makes up for their numbers.

It would be a serious risk and breach if an audit showed the company was falsifying test data for client payment. Therefore the low risk option for the company is that the tests need running again and the report generated. The audit would flag it and it can be noted, addressed and it wouldn't be a big thing.

Don't get stressed, don't falsify data for test results or back date results. Simply redo the tests and report. Business gets paid and sales guy gets bonus.

Collect evidence that you have been asked to back date or falsify results rather than redo and issue a new report. Stick to your guns and the line of retest and issue report. If they make it hard then immediately take legal advice. I would resign and on the letter to HR indicate that you have been asked to falsify test data for a client payment and your low audit risk proposal of simply running test and issuing the results was refused. I know HR will see you're being placed in a situation that will lead to a tribunal case, and if you get a bad performance review it can be seen as a link by tribunals.

Talk to a legal advisor if they're not willing to retest.

Now if the work wasn't done out of process and someone authorised the delivery without the report.. that's a different matter.
 
Sone said:
I have a massive problem at work. We should have done some work on a site back in Febuary. The guy doing the job got covid so we did the absolute legal minimum with the plan of going back to finish off the rest of the works. Now the customer is refusing to pay the invoice (and can't blame them around £12k) till they have the report. We never went back to finish. I have brought this issue up with line manager and director but still being pressured to produce a set of false results to satisfy the customer requirements and invoice. (This is things covered by HSE and a goverment regulatory authority so not something i take lightly plus reputation in the industry).

Just not sure what to do next.... anyone been in a similar situation?
Click to expand...

if you provide fraudulent paperwork then you would still be found guilty no matter what your employer said or threatened you with.


so stand your ground and lawyer up.
 
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