Now you've found your ideal candidate, what do you need to do to
get him or her "up and running" as quickly as possible? What checks do you need to
make?
Right to work in the UK - foreign nationals and work permits
Taking up references
Criminal records and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks
The fines for employing illegal workers were increased on 29 February 2008 -
to £10,000 for each illegal worker who is negligently hired. The penalties for
knowingly hiring an illegal worker remain an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of
up to two years. See our page on checking the right to work in the
UK which has just been updated with the two new lists of documents to be produced.
The Home Office has announced that ID cards will be introduced this year for
foreign nationals and then for British citizens in 2009.
If a probationary employee is not performing satisfactorily, do check that you
properly address his/her shortcomings and retain evidence of this in case it is
required. An 18 year old administrator was recently awarded £16,000 when
the tribunal found that the employer had relied on a "stereotypical" assumption that
capability equals experience and experience equals older age. See our page
on age discrimination.
for helpline advice and support.
