To have been “racially” profiled by HR

[Donotfitin]

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

Did you have a share code to give them?

Why do people look for things to be offended about these days. Like what do you gain apart from winding yourself up

That's what I would do, then I wouldn't give it another thought.

But... I don't consider that being assumed to be Not British is insulting and offensive.

Not sure I’d kick out a job at the stage the op is at over what could be an error.

A post on mn sure, people are agreeing it’s not great but a job is hard to come by these days.

What will you do op?

If you have a British passport they would still have to make an appointment to meet you on screen for the identity/imposter check if they had never met you, even if you had oresented your original passport to an interviewer.

The external id checkers do this as well as providing proof of share code and I think it avoids having to pitch up in person.

The HR department are not working according to best practice but racism is a leap, I think. Rather than starting on a stroppy foot, lean into it and find out what needs to be done for a British Citizen and perhaps very gently suggest the email could be clearer.

Probably a very junior member of admin staff trying to clear a huge backlog of pre-employment checks and to make sure everything is done in time for your start date.

If the employer holds a sponsorship licence they will be paranoid about their record keeping.

I think you are seeing offence where none was intended.

The most likely thing from what you’ve described is that they have made an assumption, based on your name and asked for the wrong thing.

I guess you can either make a huge fuss and get someone into trouble or accept that people make mistakes which can be annoying and get on with your day.

Very presumptuous of your HR department….. up to you whether you make a formal complaint or not. Alternatively, send an email back to the HR head of department and recommend some in-house training for the HR team.

What exactly have you been asked for? Because if its proof of rtw, rather than explicitly being asking for your share code, then that's different to the OP's issue.

No one is really listening to the OP.

Yes, OP, it was stupid and a gaffe on their part to ask for only the share code, not just proof of the right to work in the UK.

I do think it is a reasonable learning point for the HR practitioner who did this to understand how it might come across and understand why it's important to phrase the request in an alternative way.

I would want to know if a member of my team had did this.

You've been asked for a share code specifically rather than asked to provide proof of right to work which could be a passport or a share code depending on status?

Which isn’t what happened. 🙄

This will go down great as a new hire. Great advice

Does being assumed not British happen to you?

Sure, that's reasonable. However, unless you were only asked for the share code rather than being asked for proof of rtw then that's a completely different situation.

Op i think id message back that you dont have a code, but you do have a passport you can provide per UK RTW checks.

Id expect the person would feel pretty sheepish and wouldnt make that mistake again anyway.

Gosh, if we're talking learning points, I'd want to know if a member of my team had done it.

@Donotfitin improvement is clearly needed but do try not to go in all guns blazing before your first day. My team would draw it to my attention, I'd implement improvements but I would also note your tone and whether you brought it up collaboratively or confrontationally.

I think if @Donotfitin just says: "Sorry, not sure what you mean by a share code is, but here is my passport." she will get her point across in a way that isn't outright insulting to the HR team and provides the information they need.

Or she could be less subservient and say "I am a British Citizen so I do not have a share code. Would you like to see my passport?"

There is no need to spare their blushes by pretending not to know exactly what they mean.

I think with the recent reporting on the hidden economy and the gov seeing to be doing something about it (even if not much), I presume companies are now being asked? At least I would much prefer that to be the reason why.

Is it a share code for a DBS certificate?
its pretty standard for most UK employers irrespective of whether they are born in the UK or not. Some will pay for it and some leave it to the employee to obtain.

They asked the wrong question.

Yes. I worked in public service and we had to do this - even when changing department within the wider organisation. They did explain this being because the procedure wouldn’t have been in place when many people joined originally.

Right to work checks have been in place for around 30 years. Ops point isnt that she was asked to provide her right to work.

I’d be interested what they ask other employees for.

I would be tempted to just reply and say thanks but you don't have a code.

Hopefully they will twig their error and then ask about your passport, and not reply making things worse by telling you you need a code.

Sorry OP, if this is a new job it's not the start you'd want.