The HR Podcast · 2026-09-22 · 36 min
When Sarah and her team audit a new client, right to work checks are non-compliant somewhere between 80 and 90% of the time. In this episode, business immigration advisor Ian Hamilton joins the podcast to walk through exactly what employer right to work compliance actually requires - for British and Irish nationals, EU nationals, and everyone on a visa in between. You'll learn the difference a share code does and doesn't prove, the working-hours traps that catch out employers with student or skilled worker visa requirements on their books, and why sponsor licence compliance has become a far higher-stakes game under the current government. You'll also get Ian's honest, practical view on what genuinely protects a business when the Home Office comes calling. Key Takeaways A right to work check must be completed before someone starts work, not after. Ian flags this as the single most common non-compliance issue he finds when auditing sponsors - if in doubt, delay the start date until the check is properly done and filed. A share code is not proof of a right to work check on its own.
