Everyone gave their passport to HR to photocopy at work, some new law they say...
well I looked up this 'law', turns out I didn't have to. Not if you've been there for years.

I told them no, after a year of stress they finally gave in because I was right all along.

HA!
( --- ---, Thu 17 Jun 2010, 23:11, 10 replies)

They did this where I work
I emailed back and asked why. They repied and said 'Sorry, not sure why, but we do need to do it.'. So I didn't do it. I still work there so they obviously don't have a hotline to Customs and Immigration or anything. All seems a bit pointless, really...
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 0:21, closed)

if you turn out to have been working illegally
... they can be fined. So they want evidence you are allowed to work.

I refuse to show my passport, as it's not the appropriate document -- I showed them my birth certificate instead (which _is_ sufficient).
(haberman is singing in the changes, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 11:42, closed)

Bollocks they have to.
It's illegal to photcopy a passport as it counts as forgery of an official document. Threaten to report them.
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Fri 18 Jun 2010, 3:51, closed)

Its not illegal to photocopy a passport, unless you use the copy for nefarious purposes. The Passport Agency encourage you to keep a copy in case you lose your original . . .
Your employer is ensuring that they comply with legislation regarding unlawful employment:
"Under the 2006 [Immigration, Asylum and Nationality] Act, you will be able to have the statutory excuse for your prospective employees by checking and copying one, or a specified combination, of original documents. In all cases, the excuse must be established before the employment begins."
Same for current employees.
(Cotsan, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 9:42, closed)

This country is going to the fucking dogs.

( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Fri 18 Jun 2010, 9:46, closed)

ONLY...
I repeat...ONLY before employment.
otherwise they can't. It would be of no use to them after employment.

and the ONLY current employees they can get them off are known non UK peeps and this they can do every year, checking if they still have the right to work.

I see you added on the
'Same for current employees' part yourself : D
( --- ---, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 20:44, closed)

There's a copy of my passport at work
Makes it easier to arrange flights etc. when working abroad.

Mind you, I generally carry the original with me - you never know when you have to go airside at an airport...
( snee held his breath since, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 10:42, closed)

link plz
They did that here. Can you link to what you found please so we can "stick it to the man"?
(snarf81, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 11:39, closed)

ok
just look at our .GOV site for the 'law'. Actualy it's not really a law. The only law that has been passed is that companies are now allowed to copy a passport and keep copy for 2 years. The point is, they have to do this BEFORE employment, otherwise it will not protect them from being fined if you turn out to be a non UK person. this gives them what is called an 'Excuse'.

So if you've been employed and they ask for these details just say no. As it's of no use to them and maybe even unlawful, which may get them into trouble.

HA!
: D
( --- ---, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 20:40, closed)

What
if you don't have a passport?
(dchurch bah, Mon 21 Jun 2010, 9:05, closed)