Did you know that as an employer you are legally responsible to carry out ‘Right to Work’ checks on new employees?
You can face an unlimited fine and 5 years in prison if you are found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had reasonable cause to believe did not have the right to work in the UK.
You can also be penalised up to £20,000 per illegal worker if you employ someone who does not have the right to work and you did not do the correct checks or you did not do them properly.
Prospective employees can also prove their right to work via an ‘share code’ applied for via www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work This code can then be given to a prospective new employer to check a job applicants details.
Help reduce the risk by using the useful links below:
- Right to Work Checks – Employers guidance
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide
- Code of practice – preventing illegal working: Civil penalty scheme for employers
- www.gov.uk/government/collections/illegal-working-penalties-codes-of-practice-for-employers
- Checking a job applicant’s Right to Work
- www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work
- Right to Work Checklist
- www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checklist
- Guidance on Identity Document Validation technology
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-document-validation-technology
- Use the Employer Checking Service
- www.gov.uk/employee-immigration-employment-status
- Guidance on examining identity documents
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraudulent-identity-documents