Key Changes in Right to Work Enforcement

In 2024, the UK government significantly increased penalties for employing illegal workers. Civil penalties have now tripled, with fines of up to £45,000 for first-time breaches and up to £60,000 for repeat offenses. This marks a serious shift in the government’s approach to compliance enforcement and highlights the importance of conducting thorough Right to Work checks​​(GOV.UK).
Employers must be particularly aware of changes to the EU Settlement Scheme. The 28-day grace period for late applicants has been removed, meaning that businesses must now act immediately if an employee does not have pre-settled or settled status​.

Digital Transformation: The Future of Right to Work Checks

The future of Right to Work compliance lies in digital tools and automation. With the increasing complexity of managing a diverse workforce, digital verification tools like the Right to Work App provide real-time solutions that streamline the verification process.

Key benefits of adopting digital solutions include:

• Real-time Verification: Apps like the Right to Work App allow employers to instantly verify an employee’s right to work status through a secure connection to government databases​
• Automated Follow-Up Checks: Employees with limited work permissions require regular checks to ensure their right to work remains valid. Automation tools help track document expirations and notify HR teams when a follow-up check is needed​(GOV.UK).
• Digital Record keeping: Maintaining secure, digital records of all checks is essential for compliance. Automated tools store these records securely, ensuring businesses can easily access them during audits​(GOV.UK)​

By adopting these tools, businesses reduce the risk of human error, save time, and stay compliant with government regulations.

Automation and AI: Streamlining Compliance

As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies continue to advance, employers will see greater automation in Right to Work checks. Automation offers several advantages:

How Employers Can Prepare for Future Compliance Challenges

The future of Right to Work checks is clear: digital verification and automation are the way forward. With the introduction of stricter penalties and the removal of grace periods, UK employers must embrace digital tools and AI-driven platforms to ensure compliance. The Right to Work App and similar solutions will play a crucial role in helping businesses avoid costly penalties and secure their workforce for the future.

1. Adopt Digital Verification Tools: Embracing the Right to Work App and other digital verification platforms is essential to streamline compliance. These tools integrate manual and online checks, allowing businesses to verify work eligibility instantly
2. Train HR Teams on Digital Compliance: As automation and AI tools become more prevalent, it’s crucial that HR teams are trained on how to use these technologies effectively. Ongoing training will ensure that your staff can manage the verification process efficiently while minimizing the risk of non-compliance​
3. Monitor Policy Changes: Immigration policies are continuously evolving, and staying informed is key to maintaining compliance. Businesses must regularly review updates to Right to Work guidance to ensure they are following the latest legal requirements.

Embrace the Future of Right to Work Compliance

The future of Right to Work checks is clear: digital verification and automation are the way forward. With the introduction of stricter penalties and the removal of grace periods, UK employers must embrace digital tools and AI-driven platforms to ensure compliance. The Right to Work App and similar solutions will play a crucial role in helping businesses avoid costly penalties and secure their workforce for the future.

Take the next step

Embrace digital verification and protect your business from the risks of non-compliance.