Temporary adjustments for employers conducting right to work checks were introduced in March 2020, as part of the Home Office's plans to address changes to working patterns as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19). The concession was due to end on 6 April 2022, but this was postponed to 30 September 2022 following the government’s announcement that employers could use identification document validation technology (IDVT) to conduct right to work checks on holders of current British and Irish passports.
The decision to defer the end date was to allow employers to continue with post-pandemic working practices whilst either making arrangements to re-introduce measures for conducting face to face document checks or engaging an identity services provider (IDSP) to conduct checks using IDVT to on the employer's behalf.
As of 1 October 2022, employers must carry out one of the following prescribed checks before employment commences:
By conducting any of these checks in accordance with the Home Office's guidance, employers will obtain a statutory excuse which protects them against a civil penalty.
VWV Plus's eLearning series, HR & Employment Law for Managers includes a module on conducting Right to work checks. Further details can be found here.