EU workers can apply now for settled status to know what their situation is going forward.
That Mrs Brown’s Boys is the ‘funniest show on TV’ is proof, if proof was needed, that the UK has gone to absolute shit. Our EU colleagues and friends have long provided the backbone of the hospitality industry in this country and it is a truly worrying time for all concerned.
The unknown has, and is still, hung over us like a hairy ballbag at a Conservative Conference after party. There is however a way of finding out where you stand.
Whether you are an EU worker in the UK or an employer with EU staff help is at hand with the EU Staff Settlement Scheme. Here are the headlines.
The ‘right to work’ status of EU staff will continue to apply until 30th June 2021 (31st December 2020 in the event of no deal).
You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme at any point to find out where you stand. The process takes between 5 days and a month dependent on how annoying the people want to be. After this you will be made aware of the decision by letter.
There are three possible outcomes:
Settled Status – this will usually be granted if you have been living in the UK for at least 5 years. It means you can stay in the UK for as long as you like and if you really want to can probably apply for British Citizenship.
Pre-settled Status – this is for those who have not been in the UK for at least 5 years (and probably the large majority of EU hospitality workers). This will allow you to stay in the UK for up to another 5 years and once eligible you can then apply for settled status.
Fail – this is rare. There are currently lots of arguments about how many people are being refused and why but the worst-case number seems to be 0.5% and even in those cases a large majority are from people filling in forms wrong, not completing forms, being actually from the UK!!! etc.
So the good news is that you or your staff should be fine, providing you/they actually want to stay in a country run by a fucking moron. You/they will be able to work in the UK, have access to the NHS (until it is sold off), study (if you can afford the ridiculous costs), get access to benefits, pensions etc (until they are sold off) and travel in and out of the UK (one way is also allowed and completely understandable).
Whilst you have many months to get this process done we would recommend getting on it sooner rather than later. Who knows what bat shit decision the government is going to make next and like most things there is bound to be a late rush that will slow everything down.
To get going head to this government website
For employers there is an Employers Toolkit which will provide answers and give information plus resources