COVID Right to Work check process extended to 21st June

The Home Office has announced that the proposed reversion to the pre-COVID right to work checking process requiring a face to face check has now been delayed until the 21st June 2021.

This follows widespread criticism across the majority of industries involved in recruitment and vetting as well as employers themselves, given that the date previously announced of the 17th May would have required a face to face meeting, while the government advice on social distancing and working from home wherever possible remained in place.

Criticism of the original plan remains, which many felt to be unreasonable given how many businesses have now moved to remote working, as it has not considered the new ways of working being adopted by many companies moving to a remote or hybrid model with no physical office at all. It has also been highlighted that with online checks for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and biometric residence permits, that the use of which will provide employers with statutory excuse, UK citizens are now at a disadvantage as they will still need a physical document check.

Businesses are reminded that in order to follow the correct process and maintain statutory excuse, employers performing adjusted right to work checks must, as well as recording the date the check was carried out, also mark the check as "adjusted check undertaken on [insert date] due to COVID-19".