Employment DBS checks

Curlysue11

I’ve worked for my employer for 25 years, and they have decided every employee now has to have a DBS check, i feel that’s it’s a step too far and would like to refuse it I’m also not happy providing a copy of my passport and driving licence that they say they need to complete the check, I’ve been told if I refuse it’ll be referred to HR, but no actual information has been given as to what the consequences will be but it’s been suggested … I may no longer be able to work there, I have no contact with anyone outside of the company or anyone vulnerable although I could in theory access sensitive information does anyone know about the legalities of this, can they insist I do it ?
just an fyi, I have never been in trouble and nothing will come back on it - it’s just the principle of it.

Thanks in advance

la531983

Sounds silly to potentially lose a job on a silly principle when you have nothing to hide. Crack on though.

caprikid1

More and more common, thought I've seen people walk out over it.

You walk past thousands of CCTV and face recognition systems daily.

Personally I work in fanancial services and campagined for it. Then was unhappy at having to do it !.

Genuinely it's not the end of the world a mere irritation.

Sam_666

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178220#Comment_82178220

That is such a silly post.
If you have nothing to hide, why are you keeping your house front door closed and locked?
People have right to their privacy and have right to question any intrusion.

In this case, employer might have right to ask for those docs, like due to immigration checks on right to work, client compliance, etc.
But employee has right to ask for clear explanation why and how is that related to thier current role.

Woodstok2000

For me this wouldn't be the hill to die on, but I would want a very clear explanation up-front of why the policy change is being made now, if it applies to all staff without exception or if there are criteria to determine who needs it (e.g. will the CEO be getting a DBS check?), does it apply as part of the hiring process from now on, what will happen to anyone that fails the DBS check and what would happen in the future if for any reason your DBS was not renewed.

As long as the company could give reasonable explanations to the above and they are all clearly documented in freely available policies then I wouldn't have an issue.

Ergates

A company carrying out DBS checks on an employee with access to sensitive information is entirely reasonable (and I would argue 25 years overdue at this point).

What makes you say it's a "step too far"? Why do you believe a company shouldn't~ do this?

Peter999_2

I've had to have DBS checks done so many times over the years including enhanced ones due to working in finance.

I don't see anything wrong with it myself, your company will already know such a lot about you and if your DBS will be clean then they won't have any further information on you. One of the companies I worked for as a contractor had a sexual offender working for them who had had a DBS done when they started work 4 years previously but it was obviously clean at that point. He was immediately escorted off the premises when he was found out and we were none the wiser for a few weeks (until someone found the conviction in the media). From then on we all had to have DBS checks done every 6 months which was a bit annoying (only because we had to pay for it, haha). I'd rather these checks were done instead of staff being put in danger.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178238#Comment_82178238

I don’t know about you, but I keep my front door locked so that no one nicks all my belongings. 🤷‍♀️

OP , have you considered that you may well have to show your ID to prove you have the right to work here if you get a new job, so in practical terms very little difference.

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178263#Comment_82178263

I agree, I've had to have a DBS check done in previous employment because I could potentially access individual's personal information. Given several recent high-profile cases where people have been sacked for looking at people;s personal data with no justifiable reason, I can understand why this is becoming more of an issue for companies to take extra precautions

flaneurs_lobster

Having to have such a check, where it was not a requirement before, is a change to your contract of employment.

The employer can insist on the change if the reason for doing so is reasonable and proportionate and is applied in a non-discriminatory fashion, and can give notice of termination if you don't agree to the check, as can you.

If you believe that the dismissal was unfair or that your resignation was forced ("constructed") then there are legal ways to seek redress.

But really? Just about every major employer, and a good proportion of all the others are now insisting on these checks, unless you are actually looking for early retirement I'd just roll over. There are better hills to die on.

Ergates

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82178312#Comment_82178312

Working in data, I've never had a job that hasn't required at least DBS. It's not until you get to DV checks that it gets intrusive.

Looking at it from another perspetive - I'd not trust an organisation that didn't do DBS checks with my personal data.