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To have been “racially” profiled by HR

496 replies

Donotfitin · 16/03/2026 10:10

I don’t have a British name (like at all), so HR assumed I needed a right to work code, so asked for one, rather than asking if I was a citizen or not.

As a UK citizen I only need to provide my passport, so the whole thing took me completely by surprise!

Its the first time in my whole life that it was assumed that I wasn’t a citizen. I’ve

OP posts:
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Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 08:39

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 08:11

You’re not assuming that the HR woman is white British?
So how can she be “othering” people by assuming someone isn’t British?

You're assuming what I'm assuming and putting fake quote marks on things you're assuming I've said Confused This is getting (with apologies to Mark Zuckerberg) rather meta now.

You assumed “bias” (direct quote)

How can you assume racial “bias” if you haven’t assumed the race of the HR woman?

Shakshuka4ever · 21/03/2026 08:38

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 08:32

Thanks for the update.

That’s really interesting.

I wonder if that clarification will change people’s opinions

No

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 08:32

Donotfitin · 21/03/2026 08:28

For the record, I wouldn’t know if she’s British but she’s not white.

Thanks for the update.

That’s really interesting.

I wonder if that clarification will change people’s opinions

Donotfitin · 21/03/2026 08:28

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 06:57

Also, why is everyone making the assumption that the HR woman is a white British person?

For the record, I wouldn’t know if she’s British but she’s not white.

OP posts:
Shakshuka4ever · 21/03/2026 08:13

Wow. It is still getting better!

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 08:11

You’re not assuming that the HR woman is white British?
So how can she be “othering” people by assuming someone isn’t British?

You're assuming what I'm assuming and putting fake quote marks on things you're assuming I've said Confused This is getting (with apologies to Mark Zuckerberg) rather meta now.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 08:03

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 07:48

Is it lost on you that you’re assuming both the race and nationality of the HR woman, and attributing behaviours and attitudes to her based on that assumption?

You appear to be assuming, without any evidence, that I've made any comment at all on the race, nationality or sex of anybody involved in the original scenario, making judgements and attributing attitudes to me based on assumptions about my disagreeing with your premise.

Ironic.

You’re not assuming that the HR woman is white British?
So how can she be “othering” people by assuming someone isn’t British?

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 21/03/2026 07:52

Donotfitin · 20/03/2026 18:56

I’m not questioning asking for right to work documents :/

I wish people would read all the OP's comments before replying.

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 07:48

Is it lost on you that you’re assuming both the race and nationality of the HR woman, and attributing behaviours and attitudes to her based on that assumption?

You appear to be assuming, without any evidence, that I've made any comment at all on the race, nationality or sex of anybody involved in the original scenario, making judgements and attributing attitudes to me based on assumptions about my disagreeing with your premise.

Ironic.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 07:35

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 07:11

I agree with you that there isn't a judgement on the OP's character in asking only for a share code. But neither is there a judgement on Zayn's or Mark's characters in assuming they only eat curry or can't use chopsticks - unless you think there is?

Of course there is judgement on Zayn and Mark’s characters in your analogy.

You’re assuming specific behaviours, personal choices and preferences, and abilities based on their race.

Is it lost on you that you’re assuming both the race and nationality of the HR woman, and attributing behaviours and attitudes to her based on that assumption?

EwwPeople · 21/03/2026 07:33

RvLl · 20/03/2026 18:41

My white British ds has a really common British name. Think Jack Smith type of common. He has twice been asked for right to work checks recently. And he’s been asked to renew it as well for one of the causal jobs. I can only think that the penalty for employers flouting these checks is major.

Has he been asked for a share code though? Otherwise your comment is just as irrelevant as all the other dozen comments like it.

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 07:11

I agree with you that there isn't a judgement on the OP's character in asking only for a share code. But neither is there a judgement on Zayn's or Mark's characters in assuming they only eat curry or can't use chopsticks - unless you think there is?

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 07:09

Both of those analogies make assumptions about the person’s ability to do something.

You mean like the assumption that the OP cannot provide a British passport?

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 06:57

Also, why is everyone making the assumption that the HR woman is a white British person?

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 06:47

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 06:38

I know it is pointless because none of the bright sparks will actually read it (seeing as they couldn't even be bothered to read your OP), but perhaps some approximate analogies might be helpful.

Original scenario - onboarding at a new job
Non-biased: Please provide evidence of your right to work in the UK, for example [list of documents].
Biased: Ncuti Gatwa, please provide your share code.

Analogy - ordering group catering
Non-biased: Please select your preference from the whole menu and indicate dietary requirements.
Biased: Zayn Malik, please indicate which halal curry you would like.

Analogy - meal at Chinese restaurant
Non-biased: Does anybody need anything else for the table?
Biased: Mark Zuckerberg, we've thoughtfully replaced your chopsticks with a knife and fork.

Both of those analogies make assumptions about the person’s ability to do something.

Mark being assumed to not be able to use chopsticks because he’s white.

Zayn only eating halal curries because he’s mixed race/ Pakistani.

Making assumptions about their ability to do something, or their likes or dislikes or anything about them as a person, based on their race is racism.

There has been no judgement on her character or her ability to do the job when they asked for a share code.

RasaSayangEh · 21/03/2026 06:38

Donotfitin · 20/03/2026 18:56

I’m not questioning asking for right to work documents :/

I know it is pointless because none of the bright sparks will actually read it (seeing as they couldn't even be bothered to read your OP), but perhaps some approximate analogies might be helpful.

Original scenario - onboarding at a new job
Non-biased: Please provide evidence of your right to work in the UK, for example [list of documents].
Biased: Ncuti Gatwa, please provide your share code.

Analogy - ordering group catering
Non-biased: Please select your preference from the whole menu and indicate dietary requirements.
Biased: Zayn Malik, please indicate which halal curry you would like.

Analogy - meal at Chinese restaurant
Non-biased: Does anybody need anything else for the table?
Biased: Mark Zuckerberg, we've thoughtfully replaced your chopsticks with a knife and fork.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 21/03/2026 06:35

BedlamEveryday · 21/03/2026 00:36

I think we’re actually talking about two different things here. Nobody is saying every single mistake is intentional or that it’s the same as someone being openly racist. The point is that when the same kinds of “mistakes” keep happening to the same groups of people, over and over, it stops feeling random and starts feeling like a pattern.

That doesn’t mean people are bad or malicious. It means there are unconscious habits and assumptions that affect how people are treated. Calling that out isn’t about being offended for the sake of it or “diluting” racism. On the contrary, it’s about explaining the cumulative impact those small moments have when you experience them constantly.

You don’t have to agree that every instance is a big deal, but dismissing people’s lived experiences as nonsense shuts down any real conversation about why they keep happening in the first place. 🤷🏻‍♀️

At the absolute, very very worst they assumed she wasn’t a British citizen.

That’s all that has happened here.

They didn’t make a moral judgement about her based on that assumption. They weren’t rude to her. They weren’t dismissive. They didn’t treat her unfavourably because of that assumption. They just thought she wasn’t a British citizen.

Since when was it an insult to not be a British citizen? What does your implication (that being assumed to be not British is an insult) mean for people who aren’t British citizens?

It heavily implies that non-British people are less than.

I think your implication is the racist one.

BedlamEveryday · 21/03/2026 00:36

SeekOIt · 20/03/2026 18:39

Sorry but I don't believe you.

It is very much about being offended. Pulling nonsense like this up for racism very much dilutes the effect of pointing out actual racism.

I think we’re actually talking about two different things here. Nobody is saying every single mistake is intentional or that it’s the same as someone being openly racist. The point is that when the same kinds of “mistakes” keep happening to the same groups of people, over and over, it stops feeling random and starts feeling like a pattern.

That doesn’t mean people are bad or malicious. It means there are unconscious habits and assumptions that affect how people are treated. Calling that out isn’t about being offended for the sake of it or “diluting” racism. On the contrary, it’s about explaining the cumulative impact those small moments have when you experience them constantly.

You don’t have to agree that every instance is a big deal, but dismissing people’s lived experiences as nonsense shuts down any real conversation about why they keep happening in the first place. 🤷🏻‍♀️

saraclara · 20/03/2026 23:04

RvLl · 20/03/2026 18:41

My white British ds has a really common British name. Think Jack Smith type of common. He has twice been asked for right to work checks recently. And he’s been asked to renew it as well for one of the causal jobs. I can only think that the penalty for employers flouting these checks is major.

I can't believe that people are still not bothering to read the OP (or any of OP 's forget posts) properly.

beeble347 · 20/03/2026 19:21

Donotfitin · 16/03/2026 10:22

It was an email. And they didn’t ask for my passport, just my share code (that obviously I don’t have).

OP YANBU, my husband had similar when we used to rent together. The agency came back repeatedly during our tenancy asking to see his passport (only his, not mine - less foreign-sounding), even though we'd provided both our passports, driving licences and all the usual documents to go through an agency check.

Donotfitin · 20/03/2026 18:56

RvLl · 20/03/2026 18:41

My white British ds has a really common British name. Think Jack Smith type of common. He has twice been asked for right to work checks recently. And he’s been asked to renew it as well for one of the causal jobs. I can only think that the penalty for employers flouting these checks is major.

I’m not questioning asking for right to work documents :/

OP posts:
RvLl · 20/03/2026 18:41

My white British ds has a really common British name. Think Jack Smith type of common. He has twice been asked for right to work checks recently. And he’s been asked to renew it as well for one of the causal jobs. I can only think that the penalty for employers flouting these checks is major.

SeekOIt · 20/03/2026 18:39

BedlamEveryday · 19/03/2026 22:39

Guess what…I’m also a POC with a non-British sounding surname, so I don’t need the lecture. This isn’t about “being offended.” It’s about the fact that these so called “genuine mistakes” happen far too often. That repetition is what’s exhausting and it creates a constant sense of othering. It reminds people that they are different and seen as different.

Pointing it out isn’t outrage; it’s recognising a pattern and challenging the kind of unconscious bias that’s still too easily accepted.

Sorry but I don't believe you.

It is very much about being offended. Pulling nonsense like this up for racism very much dilutes the effect of pointing out actual racism.

Comefromaway · 20/03/2026 09:46

milveycrohn · 16/03/2026 12:12

Interesting thread here. As it's not (yet) compulsory to have a passport, what do they ask for instead, if, say, it's your first job and there are no utility bills in your name, and you've never been abroad?
I can see a time when ID cards are compulsory!

I don't think anyone answered this question. If you don't have a passport then you have to provide your birth/adoption certificate AND an official letter from a government agency or previous employer which ahs your NI number on it.

If you can't produce these documents then there is a Home Office checking service an employer can use, never had to use it myself but I'm guessing it takes longer and is potentially expensive.

Allisnotlost1 · 20/03/2026 09:28

Shakshuka4ever · 20/03/2026 09:22

As I understand from MN outside of m25 is savage land. M25 is essentially The Wall just without the ice😂

Just to add a serious note. They interviewe everyone because one can be hite with britiwh passport and still be victim of forced marriage or undue pressure. While rarer, it happens. It's also to confim identity.

Edited

At least they found each other!

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