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

Oh my god. Can people actually read?

OP yanbu (and have the patience of a saint in terms of biting your tongue for some of these replies).

It's not a minor mistake either, if they're so incompetent as to not be able to ask for your right to work evidence correctly, I think it's highly likely that if you just replied 'I can't get a code,' (as many people might, rather than the clarification you provided that this is because you're a UK citizen) they'd probably assume that meant you didn't have the right to work in the UK and withdraw the job offer.

Yep. Also failed. Would love to know how @FlapperFlamingo managed to overcome all these steps. Perhaps there’s a page in our British passports we have missed?

Perhaps there is a unique set of circumstances that means @FlapperFlamingo can use this system, but as someone on the other side of the checks we can’t use this for British and Irish citizens. For them, it’s either checking the document in person or the workplace can invest in an approved system for secure online checks (not the Home Office site, private companies approved to meet the verification standards for an online check).

Some people are really falling over themselves to justify a microaggression. YANBU OP.

I wouldn’t have called it a microagression, but definitely a massive oversight, especially coming from HR.

There a very simple ways to avoid this scenario.

I find it bizarre more than anything.

The definition also includes ‘unfair discrimination’. Is asking someone with a name that is not traditionally English for a share code instead of a passport to prove their right to work in the UK ‘unfair discrimination’?

But that poster has posted the link to a .gov site and said thats where you go to generate a code.

I cant think of any unique circumstances where that poster can generate a code using the site they themselves have posted, where a few of us cant even create an account.

Anyhoo, im sure that poster will clear it up!

For the hard of thinking, OP is NOT being asked to provide evidence of her right to work. She fully understands this is normal. The issue is the specific evidence she has been asked for - a document she (and probably the majority of candidates) does not, and could not have, rather than appropriate options.

It's similar to, if you needed to pick up a parcel from the sorting office, instead of being told 'Please provide proof of ID, such as a passport, credit card or driver's license,' you were told 'Please show your driver's license for ID' - something that not everybody would have, and some people might be completely unable to provide (e.g. under 17s, people with significant physical disabilities, etc.)

Right to work checks are mandatory UK legal checks for all employees, conducted before work starts to verify their legal right to work. Use the {Link: online checking service https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work} with a share code for non-British/Irish citizens (visa holders) or manually verify original, genuine documents (like passports) for British/Irish citizens.

They should check everyone.

I'm not surprised they asked for a code... Some of the guidance I've seen about right to rent (similar checks needed) imply you need to ask for a code.

On occasions MN makes me feel really good about my level of reading and comprehension skills as an ESOL 😁

Yes possibly something to do with the certificate of entitlement, which I’ve not come across before…who knows!

Thank you for this really helpful post, none of which had already been established and is completely beside the point

😂😂😂😂😂

As explained by OP and several PPs it’s not the check that is the issue, it’s the presumption about which process will be followed. I’ve never asked for a share code without knowing it will be necessary (after seeing a passport copy). It would actually be a waste of time and cause confusion to do so.

I'm thinking that poster will be slinking away pretending there hasn't been an egg -> face interaction

😂😂

Sometimes you really do have to just let things go otherwise you are going to have a very stressful life

Taking this as a one off incident you can "let go" is a privileged and luxury stance only available to those who are not systemically disadvantaged.

It hits a bit like "rape jokes are just banter, you need to let them go otherwise you will have a very stressful life"

Cancel the cheque OP!

I don’t work in HR but I did used to have to use a HR portal with docs and when new staff were interviewed we asked them for proof of ID (not right to work) where a passport or driving licence would suffice. You could flag this up with HR.

You'll be fine generating a code then! Go ahead and let us know how it goes.

My husband (born in England, English name) worked for the NHS for 40 years then retired. Signed up to the Bank for relief shifts and had to prove he had the right to work. I think it's just a box that has to be ticked now, not necessarily racial profiling.

I hold my hands up and admit I haven't read the rest of the thread.

Right! 😂😂😂

The OP has a very valid concern, but the justifications/denial/ignorance and attempt at gaslighting becomes so comical, I can no longer find words.

Why make yourself look so stupid? Even on an anonymous forum it's just embarrassing 😂.

I mean, it's illegal from the employer not to check employees Rights to Work, so I would recommend that you flag this up with your HR instead.

In my current workplace I had to provide proof of right to work in the UK at the outset (which was my passport by default if that makes sense as I'm a UK citizen) everyone is asked and is just a step in their on boarding process. The next step was then other documents at which point I had to provide my passport again. Could you look at their recruitment policy to see if this is just the done thing or if they've made an exception for you?

You're right, it should be standard to ask for evidence of your right to work in the UK and then outline the options to satisfy the requirements.

There is a possibility there's been an error - if there's a high volume of recruitment or an earlier error or even a misreading - I once read an application question about the right to work in the UK wrong (tbh I just didn't read properly and ticked that I was sponsored).

If you want to query it, do it. I don't think it's profiling but I don't think it's something that should be happening so even if it was an error they can look at their process.