Make sure your workers are legal
Posted 3 March 2008 at 7:16AM by Ian Betteridge in Hints and tips
Few people in business like reading regulations, particularly ones on employment. But the phrase "unlimited fine" is one that's likely to grab the attention of even the most regulation-averse business owner. And from Friday, that's what you may face if you don't check that people you employ actually have the legal right to work in the UK.
Perhaps predictably, the Federation of Small Businesses are complaining that this is yet another imposition on the time of company owners. And certainly there's a lot to take in. There are, the FSB claims, thirteen different kinds of ID that the small business owner must now be familiar with if they're employing foreign workers. And inevitably, this means more time spent checking documents instead of running your business.
But is it really too much to expect employers to ensure their workers have the legal right to work here? If a third of employers are really so interested in their employees that they want to know how much they drink out of hours, then surely checking they are working legally isn't too much to ask?
Tags: bt, bt broadbandoffice, employment regulations, regulations
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Comments
2. At March 5, 2008 12:06 PM, Carl wrote:
Is Jane aware that people stay in the UK after there work permit expire and that the government do crack down on these people. Would Jane perhaps prefer to have employess lifted from the workplace because the company couldnt take 5 miinutes to confirm the preson(s) are permotted to work here, surely this would be more damaging?
Its a simple task to check permission of a body to work here in the UK. 5 minutes. When the permit exprires, if one is required, then a simple reminder put on a planner a month or so before the expiration date of the permit would allow you to monitor this easly and effectively.
3. At March 6, 2008 10:39 AM, Sharmie wrote:
It's not just about border control or people over-staying their leave. There are individuals who come to the UK for various reasons, including long-term visits, study, getting married (fiancee's visa). These people are here legally but they are not legally permitted to work.
So yes, it is important that the employer check. They've tightened up the process for getting an NI number which has helped a lot; but we must do our part as well.
4. At March 6, 2008 1:15 PM, Carl wrote:
Spot on Sharmie.
A wise man once said-
"ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country"- President Trueman if I remember correctly?
5. At March 11, 2008 8:10 AM, The Batman wrote:
Carl, 'Mr Sitting Duck 1963' President Kennedy actually said this although based on something someone else said, gooole the phrase. Still if either an NI number or a work permit is not forthcoming, sorry no job. Just pop a box on the application form. After all, an application form with a lie on it must still be a legal document and as such would cover the employer as reasonable steps had been taken to ascertain the eligibily to work... M'lud. Any legal-eagle out there care to back me up on that??
6. At March 12, 2008 5:17 PM, Carl wrote:
Thank for correcting me Batman, I dont like giving credit to where its not due, taking nothing away from the late President Trueman, other then the misguided creditation for the quote which has now been addressed. You however have one of the best quotes ever " to the batmobile".
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1. At March 4, 2008 1:41 PM, jane wrote: