The Importance of Right to Work Checks: Start the Year Compliant

Ensuring employees have the legal right to work in the UK isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a legal obligation that could make or break your business. Right to Work checks are a critical requirement under UK immigration law, designed to prevent illegal working. Failing to comply could lead to devastating consequences, including unlimited fines, imprisonment, and irreparable damage to your reputation. As the new year begins, there’s no better time to prioritise these checks, ensuring your processes are airtight before costly mistakes put your business at risk.

How Often Should Right to Work Checks Be Conducted?

Employers must conduct Right to Work checks before an employee starts their job. For employees with limited permission to work in the UK, follow-up checks are also required before their current permissions expire. Failure to keep up with these requirements can result in severe consequences, including fines and loss of eligibility to sponsor workers.

For all employees, regular follow ups must be conducted, at least once every 12-months.

Case Study: Consequences of Non-Compliance

The importance of staying compliant cannot be overstated. In a notable example, businesses in St Albans and Radlett were recently fined a total of over £100,000 for employing illegal workers. According to The Herts Advertiser, these businesses failed to conduct the proper checks, leading to enforcement action by the Home Office. This case highlights not only the financial costs of non-compliance but also the potential damage to a company’s reputation, which can have long-lasting effects.

According to the Government website, failing to carry out proper checks could result in severe consequences. You could be “sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.”

How Factotum Can Help

Navigating the complexities of right to work checks can be daunting, especially for SMEs. Factotum’s People Team provides tailored support to ensure your company meets all regulatory requirements. From conducting initial and follow-up checks to maintaining accurate records, we handle the details so you can focus on running your business.

By partnering with Factotum, you can mitigate the risks of non-compliance and gain peace of mind knowing your employment practices are aligned with UK regulations. Start 2025 on the right note by prioritising compliance this January.