Royal Mail sends letters to staff asking for proof of ID

[Jeffrey Shaw]

Birth Certificate does not prove that. How do you prove that you're the named baby?

See 'French Connection' [film, not shop]

[Cyclone]

Only photo ID should be acceptable really. Drivers license, passport, etc...

Of course having the birth certificate will let you obtain either of those, it's not exactly a foolproof system!

[Deltic]

When I was asked to prove my right to work in the UK I had a little footle round the government website.

 

Obviously if an employer is found to be employing people without the right to work in the UK they get into a lot of trouble, complete with a hefty fine. However there are a few closely defined get outs including seeing the passport or birth certificate of the employee. That means that even if the passport or birth certificate turn out to belong to someone else or be faked the employer has shown due diligence so will escape the penalties, Call me cynical (OK you're cynical) but I think it's more a box ticking exercise for the employer than an attempt to identify illegal workers.

 

By the way,I was amazed how easy it is to get a copy of your birth certificate , just an online form containing some relatively easy to obtain information.

[Guest sibon]

No it just proves you've not been caught..

 

Which is the truly crazy thing about all of this.

 

My mobile phone provider knows where I am at all times, but my employer doesn't know whether I've commited a crime, or changed nationality.

[Flowersfade]

I assume this is standard procedure as when I starred work I had to do it as did my OH I see nothing wrong with it. Most places ask for some proof such as a passport birth certificate etc.