The date for physical right-to-work checks to resume, which was to be 21st June, has been pushed back by the Home Office.  It has been agreed that Covid-19 “adjusted” checks can now continue until 1 September 2021, in line with current government public health guidance for employees to continue to work from home where possible.

Had the return to physical checks gone ahead on 21 June as planned, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) had estimated that more than 300,000 people a week would have had their start dates delayed. However, delaying the physical checks to a later date does not resolve the issue completely, and the REC would like the Home Office to allow employers to use digital checks for the long term, or at a minimum until social distancing restrictions have been lifted completely.

The latest guidance says that for the period up to and including 31 August 2021, checks can continue to be carried out remotely using video calls, with applicants and employees sending scanned documents or photos of their right to work documents by email, rather than employers needing to see the originals. The Employer Checking Service should be used if an applicant or employee cannot provide any of the required documentation.

Effective 1 September 2021, requirements will change and employers will then be required to physically check the applicant’s original documents or check their right to work online. In previous communication from the Home Office, physical right to work checks had been due to resume on 17 May but on 12 May, this date was then pushed back to 21 June. If you need support or further guidance please get in touch.

Further information on the Right to Work checks can be found on the UK’s Government website, click here to go there direct.