Screening expert calls on the Home Office to use RTW extension to drive meaningful change

août 26th, 2021

Background screening and identity services firm, Sterling, has welcomed the delay to the return to in-person Right to Work (RTW) checks until April 2022 and has urged that this extended period is used to drive permanent change in the process.

Steve Smith, Managing Director EMEA, Sterling, commented:

“The delayed return to in-person RTW checks is welcome at a time when there’s still a wealth of uncertainty and numerous businesses still working in a remote capacity. However, it is our hope that this isn’t a temporary extension and that the Home Office uses the time to develop a more permanent solution that utilises the digital progress that we saw work so well during lockdown.

“We know that a lot of effort went into getting the Right to Work share code process in place over the course of the pandemic and this proved immensely valuable at a time when in-person verification simply wasn’t viable. However, this digital move delivered a number of other positive results, streamlining checks for some and expanding the reach of recruitment activity as a worker’s location became less important – a critical element in a skills short market.

“Perhaps more importantly, though, the right digital tools can reduce potential errors in the process. With increasingly sophisticated methods of fraud being utilised, technology can, in some instances, be more accurate than human verification. We look forward to seeing the Home Office’s recommendations over the coming months.”

About Sterling
Sterling—a leading provider of background and identity services—offers a foundation of trust and safety that spans across industries, professions, and borders. Our technology-powered services help organisations create great environments for their workers, partners, and customers. With office locations around the world, Sterling conducts more than 75 million searches annually. Visit Sterling online at sterlingeuro.wpengine.com.

Media Contact: Jamie Serino
jamie.serino@sterlingcheck.com | 001.646.435.2263

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