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How will the UK employ staff from the EU post-Brexit?

Several North East companies employ staff from the EU.

With this in mind, what should businesses do in order to prepare for Brexit?

Government guidance advises businesses that, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there will be no change to the right to work of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members living in the UK until December 31, 2020.

Furthermore, the current ‘right to work’ checks which businesses carry out will apply until the end of 2020, too.

Therefore, until January 1, 2021, potential employees will continue to prove their right to work using either:

• Their passport or national identity card if they’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• Their biometric residence card if they’re a non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member
• Or their status under the EU Settlement Scheme or EU Temporary Leave Scheme using the Home Office’s online right to work checking service

Seasonal workers

For businesses that employ seasonal workers, the government has advised that businesses can continue to employ EU citizens to work on farms and in food businesses until the end of 2020, regardless of whether the UK leaves the EU with a deal or not.

EU Settlement Scheme

While it’s the responsibility of the individual and not the employer to make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme, guidance is available for employers who wish to support EU staff and their families to apply.

Keep up to date

Businesses can sign up for email alerts from the government about the rights of EU and EEA citizens.

For the latest government advice on Brexit, visit the North East Growth Hub’s free Brexit Toolkit.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North East Growth Hub .