'This will 100% blow up in your face': Single guy tries to fake his way into getting 2 months of paternity leave, gets saved by strangers online from fraud, felony charges, and jail time

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 13, 2023 1:00 PM EST

CRIMINALS! Oh criminals. When you think of the 'bad guys' in a story, you usually will think of someone who actively does bad things, right? Well, what about the folks who unknowingly commit crimes? Are they still bad? Well in our next story, one guy unknowingly committed fraud (or was about to) and got his tooshie saved by a gaggle of strangers online. 

Anyone with a greasy moral code and an ounce of cleverness can claim the benefits of people who desperately and legitimately need a break, which is a crime that can go unnoticed. If a parent is entitled to paternity leave, why can't a single guy cash in? But even after 8 months of setting up a heist of company benefits, one employee was led to think twice about moving forward with his plan to fake his own paternity leave. 

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  • 01
    TIBO.1 MI 1.0 "I'm faking my paternity leave"
    via u/canva

  • For those of us who aren't familiar with white collar crimes, the most common of all the corporate offenses is fraud. While there are many ways to commit fraud ‘legally’, the people that get caught and convicted are the ones who get a little too greedy. The moment an employee thinks that they can dupe the system is the moment they're stepping into criminal territory, whether they realize it or not. 

  • In our next story, one guy stepped into WAY criminal territory. This employee was so fed up with his lousy job that he decided he would try to get away with a benefit heist that could have cost him his criminal record. Scroll for the entire story of how one man put together an elaborate, 8-month-long ruse when he decided to fake paternity leave in order to get a few months off. 

  • Next on the reading list, here's another audacious work story where an employee got 20 hours docked from their paycheck and decided to get revenge by taking their qualm straight to the CEO. 

  • 02
    Posted by u/Shitakipom 1 day ago r/r/offmychest. I'm faking my paternity leave I work for a pretty large company with a 2 month paternity leave deal written in my contact. 8 months ago I told my employee my fiancé was pregnant. We never really talk about our personal lives but he was happy and cheerful for me.
    via u/Shitakipom
  • 03
    I found some random high school acquaintance on Instagram that was recently pregnant and showed my employers the images of her baby bump for the next few months and really sold the idea that I'm about to be a father and have a fiancé at home.
    via u/Shitakipom
  • 04
    I haven't had a girlfriend in years and the whole thing is a complete lie. I don't think there's any way for the company to verify any of it but I'm getting kind of nervous. I have my leave scheduled for mid December.
    via u/Shitakipom
  • 05
    I hate my job and I'm not afraid to be fired if this whole thing blows over, I'm just amazed I took things this far and I'm at a point where I don't think I can take it back.
    via u/Shitakipom
  • 06
    Book-Faramir-Better 23 hr. ago There's still a way out of this, OP... "I need to cancel my paternity leave. My fiancé just admitted to me that I'm NOT the father. I dumped her last night. It's over between us."
    via u/Book-Faramir-Better
  • 07
    NoBuddies2021 20 hr. ago Also "I'm traumatized by the ordeal that I don't want to talk with the details. My head is not in the game I need some time off to get my head and work ethic back in control." There you go addition off time. 1.2k Reply Share Book-Faramir-Better 20 hr. ago Boom! There it is! Different tactic, same result!
    via u/NoBuddies2021
  • 08
    Left_Chance5727. 22 hr. ago PLEASE DO THIS OP!!!!!!! 108 Reply Share thiccgoddess00 16 hr. ago "Can I switch paternity leave to a personal leave? I just found out I am not the father. Its over and need some time to process this"
    via u/Left_Chance5727
  • 09
    PapaPinto3 22 hr. ago Yeah, for real! Like now. This will 100% blow up in your face. Reply Share 68 Background-Stranger- 20 hr. ago This was solid advice. No need to get rid of the fictitious baby either
    via u/PapaPinto3
  • 10
    Revolution Middle312 15 hr. ago Bruh he doesn't even have to lie. That's just ignorant. Either take it or cancel it. Its none of their business why you CANCELED A LEAVE not will they care. Lol liars only think of more lies lol Reply Share 15 leaving2morrow. 13 hr. ago If he takes the leave he has to supply proof of the birth
    via u/RevolutionMiddle312
  • 11
    Defiant_Mix2183 · 14 hr. ago I think that should be the excuse after the paternity leave is over. "The baby didn't look like me when it came out and I wrestled with doubts until I finally took a paternity test and it's not my kid. I need time to process and deal with calling off the engagement." Double leave and covered his own . And just hit them with the "it's hard to talk about" if he does go back.
    via u/Defiant_Mix2183
  • 12
    the_bc_1234. 1 day ago This is fraud they can sue you not just fire you. Also normally to go on mat/pat leave you need birth certificate with your name on it. Reply Share 1.3k TheShaggy Rogers23 1 day ago Would OP be fine if they quit their job and cut all ties with the corporation now?
    via u/the_bc_1234
  • 13
    stinstin555 23 hr. ago edited 23 hr. ago Agreed. He is going to need documentation from the OBGYN, as well as, a Birth Certificate within the first week of the child's birth. Aside from fraud it is also likely a felony theft based on 2 months of wages. Yes he can be sued but he can also face jail time. Now let's look at yet another issue:
    via u/stinstin555
  • 14
    OP: I am about to commit a crime. Also OP: I am going to admit in writing on Reddit that I am about to commit a crime. And Once Again OP: I don't care if I get fired. OP: Getting fired is the least of your worries. You should find a criminal attorney now, make plans to sell you car, end your lease and prepare for a possible jail sentence.
    via u/stinstin555
  • 15
    Depending on where you live paid paternity may be paid by the state. While your job may terminate you, work out a repayment plan and/or sue you for defrauding them. I can assure you that a State Attorney General and or DA will not tread so lightly. Proceed with caution because you are about to arrive at the intersection of FAFO.
    via u/stinstin555
  • 16
    ncmnlgd 23 hr. ago Yes they can absolutely fire OP and take legal action for fraud. However, in the US, if you want baby bonding time through FMLA (which, you have to work at the company for a year or specific amount of hours to qualify for), the father only has to provide an attestation that he is going on leave for the purposes of baby bonding, no birth certificate required. So, if you're lying on the attestation, you'd be fabricating evidence and that would be proof of the fraud if caught.
    via u/ncmnlgd
  • 17
    LtCommander Carter 1 day ago . OP please post an update when the hits the fan, I need this for entertainment value 909 Reply Share stinstin555 23 hr. ago I got $5 on OP writing that update from jail. It is not just fraud, depending on the salary paid over the leave it may very well be a felony.
    via u/LtCommanderCarter
  • 18
    SlightlyLessAnxiety - 23 hr. ago If he finds a way out of it (or quits) before the leave is scheduled to start, I would imagine he'd be Ok. Reply Share 36 stinstin555 22 hr. ago . I assume. But that means more lies. The house of lies he is building will one day come crashing down.
    via u/SlightlyLessAnxiety
  • 19
    justinchina 22 hr. ago OP is about to become a stay at home dad. 41 1 more reply Reply Share LynnRenae_xoxo · 20 hr. ago - My chest is tight reading all of this lol 20 Reply Share Your BitsAreShowing 23 hr. ago We won't get an update because he'll be in jail.
    via u/justinchina
  • 20
    realitytomydreams 1 day ago Start updating that resume and looking for job offers buddy. Reply Share 202 YourBitsAreShowing 23 hr. ago He should be looking for a criminal attorney first.
    via u/realitytomydreams
  • 21
    ialwaystealpens 1 day ago As someone who works in HR (employee relations) this happens frequently enough and unless you have a new job lined up I'd give this some thought. This is fraud and you will most likely get fired for it, which you said you don't care about. But you most likely won't get unemployment because of it, so you'll be out income. And depending on the industry you'll have a problem getting a new job as it could follow you if the industry is small and people talk. But you do you.
    via u/ialwaysstealpens
  • 22
    FollowingNo4648 - 23 hr. ago Dude just quit your job. If not, just say your fiancee admitted she cheated and the baby isn't yours so you don't need the maternity leave anymore. in some Taking it will put your serious legal troubles that ain't worth it.
    via u/FollowingNo4648
  • 23
    alysssaaa831 - 1 day ago This is fraud. You can be arrested for FMLA abuse and it is a felony. I'm pregnant right now and my husband has to show proof of birth. Also, we are on his health insurance and he will be adding baby to the policy. If you use your company's health insurance they may wonder why you did not add the baby within 30 days of birth. Reply Share 92 shruglife1985 22 hr. ago "Haven't had a girlfriend for years." Wonder why.
    via u/alyssssaaa831
  • 24
    misslady04 17 hr. ago This will not end well. Also, people like you are the reason we have to submit so much stuff for proof of birth and leave paperwork. Shameful. Reply Share 15 vom-IT-coffin - 1 day ago . You need therapy.
    via u/misslady04
  • 25
    Samii594 17 hr. ago I'm really sorry to burst your bubble but you'll need to supply the birth certificate to get paternity leave ..you're going to get in a lot of trouble, not just fired..so I would suggest what someone else did and go the route of finding out the baby isn't yours so you need some time off to get your head around it..you really should have researched what the process of paternity leave is before making up this fictitious life.
    via u/Samii594

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crazy boss worker maternity leave employee manager jail work coworkers working employees pay fraud supervisor workplace paternity leave leaves coworker
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