So I'm an employer interviewing a candidate after March 2019. They're an EU citizen, haven't got a settled status document to show me, but assure me they've been here years, just haven't applied for the document yet as there's a grace period anyway. 1/7
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
I ask them why they've not applied yet, they explain: "well there's @the3million people needing to apply for this document in a very short space of time, and the scheme was only recently available. I was planning to do it soon, but.. " 2/7
"…wasn't expecting my previous employer to go bust, so wasn't expecting to be here in a position applying for jobs. Apparently there's now a 4 month waiting time to get proof of settled status - but I really need to find employment sooner than that." 3/7
Gosh. So what do I do as employer? I know I'll face hefty fines for employing someone I shouldn't. 5 years jail and unlimited fine apparently! gov.uk/penalties-for-… 4/7
Is this person telling the truth? What if they only arrived in the UK post March 2019, and in fact needs a mandatory work permit? Shall I ask them for proof of being entitled to settled status? 5/7
The problem is, I'm not so sure what the Home Office requires as evidence of - so I'm not confident of getting it right - what if I decide this person is entitled to settled status, but then in a few months time the Home Office reject them? Would I still face a fine? 6/7
I don't want to be discriminating against EU citizens - but this feels really risky to me. And the British candidate I interviewed yesterday, although not quite as good as this person, will probably do the job well enough. I think I'll play it safe and employ them instead. 7/7
Ps just want to make it clear, I'm not ACTUALLY an employer myself. Ran out of characters in first tweet to say "imagine I'm an employer". But that's what I meant.
