Brexit and your employees status confusion

With the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) fast approaching there is an air of trepidation being faced by UK employers where their European employees are concerned. ‘Will they’ or ‘won’t they’ be able to continue in employment after the 19 March 2019 when the UK leaves the EU!

Though there has been ‘much a do’ over Brexit recently, the Prime Minister has been crystal clear about the status of EU citizens already resident in the UK where she recently confirmed the following: “If there is no deal I have said that EU citizens living here in the UK will continue to have their rights protected. And I would expect other countries in the EU to do the same for UK citizens.”

According to the Office For National Statistics in a report published in November 2018, there were 2.29 million EU nationals working in the UK.

As stated above under current arrangements EU employees already resident in the UK are expected to be protected. However, EU Nationals wanting to come and work in the UK following the UK’s exit from the EU is uncertain at this stage. 

EU citizens who would like to remain in the UK after Brexit must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Applications can be made from 19 March 2019 up to December 2020. 

The government have provided a toolkit for employers with guidance on what they need to know in order to support EU citizens and their families through this process.  The kit contains key information for employers, key information on the EU Settlement Scheme, informative videos that include how-to guides, posters providing key information and timelines and leaflets focusing on awareness and eligibility.  The guidance includes information that employers can disseminate to EU citizens that they employ.

With penalties of five years imprisonment and unlimited fines for employers employing illegal immigrants, employers do need to be vigilant!

Visit right to work in UK to see the documents required.