Proof of right to work in UK

Savvy_Sue

john539 wrote: »

I'm not sure this is retrospective, that British people already employed, possibly for many years, have to prove anything.

HR/Personnel are just covering their !!!!!! thinking we'll just ask everyone.

What's wrong them with targetting people (foreigners) & saying we want you to prove you have right to work here.

They're just too scared, because of that they target everyone, which is wrong.

I've got no problem with all new employees being checked including Brits, but not blanket checks on all old employees, as if we all should be treated as illegals.

But how do you know who is a foreigner and who is not? You can't rely on skin colour and accent to tell you, or even a combination of the two. I've known people who did not have UK passports (or the right to work here) who spoke perfect English, and others with quite strong foreign accents who do have UK passports and the right to work here.

lili2008

john539 wrote: »

I'm not sure this is retrospective, that British people already employed, possibly for many years, have to prove anything.

HR/Personnel are just covering their !!!!!! thinking we'll just ask everyone.

What's wrong them with targetting people (foreigners) & saying we want you to prove you have right to work here.

They're just too scared, because of that they target everyone, which is wrong.

I've got no problem with all new employees being checked including Brits, but not blanket checks on all old employees, as if we all should be treated as illegals.

If they really have to 'check identity' (and this is a very new thing to Brits) they should give people a range of options, at their expense. Having to produce a passport for any old job just seems to me like forcing people to buy one of those expensive we insist on your biometric data thingies, even if they don't travel, which in turn seems like a cynical attempt to make everyone pay a stealth tax and worse, turn their most private identity to the state. It's all I strongly oppose, as should any Brit who realises how long and hard we've fought for our current freedoms.

john539

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But how do you know who is a foreigner and who is not? You can't rely on skin colour and accent to tell you, or even a combination of the two. I've known people who did not have UK passports (or the right to work here) who spoke perfect English, and others with quite strong foreign accents who do have UK passports and the right to work here.

I agree it may not be that straightforward & there may be people who don't fit the bill, that may or may not have right to work in UK, but look foreign or speak good english.

You're already employed, that's not your problem.

HR Personnel have got to do the work, they cannot assume an employee will comply with any request in providing various proofs later after being employed.

Targetting everyone retrospectively, to find any, maybe a few, maybe no illegals is wrong.

That mentality is wrong.

They may be interpreting law/advice wrong & are relying on employees to comply.

liney

If you were born in the UK, a current or expired passport is fine as proof of elegibility to work as long as the emplyer is satisfied the document does relate to the applicant - if they don't believe you then they can call the Employers Helpline on the Border Agency web page who will confirm.

If you do not have a passport you can provide a Full British Birth Certificate and a document from an ex employer or government body showing your National Insurance Number. A birth certificate costs about £7 if you need a copy as opposed to the £70 for a passport.

A potential employer should ask all applicants for proof of elegibility to work at the same stage of their application - we do this before interview. If they only ask selectively, or they ask at different points in the application they are open to claims of discrimination for which compensation has no upper limit. Not something you bend the rules on.

Your company is probably just trying to correct a failing policy. Ultimately the onus is on the employee to prove they legal to work, not the employer, so you are required to provide documents if asked.