Shorter name version on employment contract

cherry76

I have accepted a permanent job in London with the company I used to work as a temp. I have always used a shorter version of my surname as it is difficult to pronounce. The surname is in three parts and I am using the last part. When submitting passport for proof of identity I explained to HR about the preferred name and longer one. He said no problem. I thought he was going to record my full legal names on the contract as per passport. I was surprised my job contract is under preferred name. My only concern is when I am being enrolled to LGPS under the shorter name and it might cause a problem in future. Shall I leave it as it is and later update the details when am more settled with the pensions office myself? The hr office is very busy. Thanks

General_Grant

cherry76 wrote: »

I have accepted a permanent job in London with the company I used to work as a temp. I have always used a shorter version of my surname as it is difficult to pronounce. The surname is in three parts and I am using the last part. When submitting passport for proof of identity I explained to HR about the preferred name and longer one. He said no problem. I thought he was going to record my full legal names on the contract as per passport. I was surprised my job contract is under preferred name. My only concern is when I am being enrolled to LGPS under the shorter name and it might cause a problem in future. Shall I leave it as it is and later update the details when am more settled with the pensions office myself? The hr office is very busy. Thanks

Are you now employed by a company or a local authority?

Eventually you can check which form of your name has been recorded with the pension scheme but what was on your P45?

They would also use your NI number as a unique identifier.

Undervalued

cherry76 wrote: »

I have accepted a permanent job in London with the company I used to work as a temp. I have always used a shorter version of my surname as it is difficult to pronounce. The surname is in three parts and I am using the last part. When submitting passport for proof of identity I explained to HR about the preferred name and longer one. He said no problem. I thought he was going to record my full legal names on the contract as per passport. I was surprised my job contract is under preferred name. My only concern is when I am being enrolled to LGPS under the shorter name and it might cause a problem in future. Shall I leave it as it is and later update the details when am more settled with the pensions office myself? The hr office is very busy. Thanks

I am not sure there is any such thing! As far as I know you can call yourself anything you like as long as it is not done with the intention of deceiving.

Obviously that can lead to practical difficulties in the real world, despite not being illegal, so there is also the possibility of formally changing your name to the shorter / easier version.

I really wonder, given the increasing need to prove one's identity despite living in a country that does not require ID cards etc, whether it wouldn't be safer to either stick with the full version or make a formal change?