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Advice Please!

Started by NapalmKev, 23 January, 2017, 11:58:45 AM

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NapalmKev

I've worked for the same company for nearly 15 years. Recently I've been told that I have to produce either a birth certificate or passport (don't have!) for their files to prove I'm an English citizen!

They are adamant that I must provide documentation despite working for them since 2002!

Am I legally obliged to give them what they are asking for? Or should I just tell them to go fuck themselves!

Cheers
"Where once you fought to stop the trap from closing...Now you lay the bait!"

Professor Bear

Neither.  Politely explain that you shan't be spending your own unpaid free time chasing down and paying for expensive documentation for which you have no practical use, though I would suggest a compromise offer: if they want to pay you overtime to gather the verification necessary for a passport application and then pay the 100-odd quid to process it, you're willing to do them that favor.

NapalmKev

I've calmed down a bit now so I won't go down the "Fuck yourselves" route as was my intention.

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try!

Cheers
"Where once you fought to stop the trap from closing...Now you lay the bait!"

matty_ae

I think its a reasonable request if you think of it from their point of view.

- There are now fines for employers who find themselves employing illegal immigrants.
- They may have found themselves vulnerable as they never originally asked for birth certificates on hiring
- Its less contentious to ask all members of staff to do this rather than only asking for hires from the last X years / people who don't 'appear' to be UK/EU citizens 

I would be highly suspicious of an employee who couldn't produce one of these documents or something based on them.

NapalmKev

Quote from: matty_ae on 23 January, 2017, 03:33:03 PM
I think its a reasonable request if you think of it from their point of view.



If I had just started working for them I probably would've thought it reasonable. After working there for nearly 15 years I'm of the opinion (rightly or wrongly) that they are taking the piss!

Cheers

"Where once you fought to stop the trap from closing...Now you lay the bait!"

COMMANDO FORCES

We had to all do it at our place and there were lots of arguments but everyone meekly handed theirs over like the sheep we were :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bolt-01

NapalmKev- I might be being stupid here, but doesn't the fact that you pay National insurance count as proof of nationality?

NapalmKev

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 23 January, 2017, 03:51:10 PM
NapalmKev- I might be being stupid here, but doesn't the fact that you pay National insurance count as proof of nationality?

I thought that would be the case but the company is insisting I provide proof of who I am.

I carry no forms of ID as I've never needed to. The only thing in wallet with my name on is a debit card.

If I'm not legally obligated to give them proof of my nationality then they can shove it.

Cheers
"Where once you fought to stop the trap from closing...Now you lay the bait!"

Professor Bear

Quote from: matty_ae on 23 January, 2017, 03:33:03 PMI would be highly suspicious of an employee who couldn't produce one of these documents or something based on them.

People who work low-paying jobs may not be able to afford a car or holidays, hence no photographic ID like a licence or a passport.

Pyroxian

Quote from: Professor Bear on 23 January, 2017, 04:59:27 PM
Quote from: matty_ae on 23 January, 2017, 03:33:03 PMI would be highly suspicious of an employee who couldn't produce one of these documents or something based on them.

People who work low-paying jobs may not be able to afford a car or holidays, hence no photographic ID like a licence or a passport.

Yes, but everyone should have a birth certificate, or be able to get a hold of one.

Professor Bear

No UK citizen is required to own a birth certificate, but Kev has already said they want proof of identity, and a birth certificate isn't that on its own, unless it comes with additional documents: usually several examples of addressed correspondence from government agencies to the individual in question and usually also photographs signed by a prominent community figure such as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc, who must also know the individual personally and may be contacted by the government to verify this - which is why not every doctor, lawyer, or teacher wants to be bothered signing photographs.

Proving your identity is not a little thing to ask of someone without photographic ID, it's a lot of time, effort and - crucially - money.  It's not unreasonable to expect those demanding this proof to pay for it.

The Enigmatic Dr X

Lock up your spoons!

sheridan

My birth certificate was lost while I was a child (possibly by the Passport office when my mum got me a child passport).  I had to get a replacement for it when I applied for an adult passport.  Cost less than £10 from the local registrar's office to where I was born.  If they don't require photo ID (and my passport is the only photo ID I possess) then it's much cheaper and hassle-free than getting a passport (I have no idea where NapalmKev was born - if outside the UK then *shrug*).

Pyroxian

Quote from: Professor Bear on 23 January, 2017, 05:24:54 PM
No UK citizen is required to own a birth certificate, but Kev has already said they want proof of identity, and a birth certificate isn't that on its own

Actually, NapalmKev specified that a birth certificate could be used in his first post.

I, Cosh

Quote from: Professor Bear on 23 January, 2017, 04:59:27 PM
Quote from: matty_ae on 23 January, 2017, 03:33:03 PMI would be highly suspicious of an employee who couldn't produce one of these documents or something based on them.
People who work low-paying jobs may not be able to afford a car or holidays, hence no photographic ID like a licence or a passport.
In fact, exactly the people who the introduction of ID checks at polling booths is deliberately intended to disenfranchise.
We never really die.