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Tue, 26 Nov 2024 22:00:30 GMT

I need to get this out because it was a challenging situation and it’s affected more people than me. I won’t identify anyone else involved but it involves a fundamental mess up by Social Security Scotland. Spoiler warning: I, and 5 others, were fired because of this mistake.

In October 2022, I was hired on by Social Security Scotland in a temporary contract as part of the Fair Start Scotland programme. Because it was recommended to me, I thought nothing of it. I had to go through an ID verification and background check during which I used my Biometric Residence Permit and my American passport. I was transparent through my entire onboarding and paperwork about my Indefinite Leave to Remain. I was not asked for any other information nor was it in any way suggested it would be a problem.

So I started in December 2022. I had a one year contract at first and it was extended because I needed to do more to make it permanent (more phones). So I did that. And this June (2024), it was decided I did enough to get a permanent contract. I got a few questions by email but I was so relieved to have the permanent status that my main thought was on getting to apply to other internal roles now that I could. I was happy my job let me help vulnerable people but I knew other roles could better use my skills and experiences.

On 24 June 2024, I was invited to a meeting with my team leader and who turned out to be someone with HR. And this is where they informed me that due to my American citizenship my hiring was not allowed and it was considered null and void. I was not entitled to any payment in lieu of notice and had no recourse as to keep me on would be illegal. And I couldn’t even have my job held because I could get citizenship and just couldn’t afford it. I’d have to apply again if I got citizenship (£1600 to get that).

I did eventually get some payment in lieu of notice as a courtesy but at the time I was under the naive hope that my job search would be fast so I didn’t stress too much. At the time, it hit me how I was basically escorted from the building on that day. Had I not already been in contact with a few people on WhatsApp and was able to send a Teams message before I left, I would have just essentially vanished. I couldn’t say bye and I couldn’t even grab my things. Someone else had to do that for me. I can only imagine the rumours.

But I tried to take it in stride. I’m honestly too busy completing applications and going into interviews to really focus on this a lot. After the situation with me, Social Security Scotland did an audit and found five other people who ended up having even less notice than me. At least two specifically asked someone in HR at Social Security Scotland about their ability to work there and was told it was ok. One even left a long term stable job to do so. And meanwhile the official blame is on a third party.

Me being hurt by this made me sad but discovering I’m one of a few made me honestly enraged. Both at the incompetence at the way it’s been managed as well as us being left with so few options. I mean, fundamentally the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR) are pretty odd. None of us worked with government secrets. Most of us processed applications related to disability benefits, which was honestly tiring work as we tried to help vulnerable people in challenging situations as they waited for their decisions. And then also processed applications to check for all of the paperwork people would need to be able to be moved onto someone who could make decisions.

We’re deciding how to collectively figure out what to do but I’m now so sort of tired that I just wanted to get this story on social media if nothing else. I honestly don’t even know what I want to have happen. Getting the CSNR looked at seems unlikely as xenophobia can be a very loud force and “letting foreigners work in government” requires a lot of guts to push. For as much as there was so much that stressed me, I’d love to have that job back. And have options to continue my growth. I do want to do a job that lets me contribute to society. I’d even be ok if I had to get citizenship now. I’m not against it. I’ve wanted to get it. The money is a problem but I’d prioritise it.

I don’t even really want to shame Social Security Scotland. It was a fundamental fuck up but most of the people working there want good things. I mean no one is perfect but despite the slow processing times and technical issues, most of the people I met were idealists who wanted to do good things. Now upper management… that’s another thing. Time for more job applications.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:51:57 GMT

I really need to get this out because it was a challenging situation and it’s turned out to affect more people than me, I really feel I need to go more public with it. I won’t identify anyone else involved but it involves a fundamental mess up by HR in Social Security Scotland. Spoiler warning: I was fired because they discovered I legally couldn’t work for them after they made a mistake. And discovering that led to an audit that led to 5 other people being found and fired for the same reason, with zero warning.

In October 2022, I was hired on by Social Security Scotland in a temporary contract as part of the Fair Start Scotland programme. Because it was recommended to me, I thought nothing of it. I had to go through an ID verification and background check during which I used my Biometric Residence Permit to verify I could work for them and my American passport to prove my identity. I was transparent through my entire onboarding and paperwork about my Indefinite Leave to Remain. I was not asked for any other information nor was it in any way suggested it would be a problem.

On 24 June 2024, I was invited to a meeting with my team leader and who turned out to be someone with HR. I was still not really expecting much so I went down. And this is where they informed me that due to my American citizenship my hiring was not allowed and it was considered null and void. I was not entitled to any payment in lieu of notice and had no recourse as to keep me on would be illegal. And I couldn’t even have my job held because I could get citizenship and just couldn’t afford it. I’d have to apply agao if I got citizenship.

I did eventually get some payment in lieu of notice as a courtesy but at the time I was under the naive hope that my job search would be fast so I didn’t stress too much. At the time, it hit me how I was basically escorted from the building on that day. Had I not already been in contact with a few people on WhatsApp and was able to send a Teams message to fellow PCS Union members before I left, I would have just essentially vanished. I couldn’t say bye and I couldn’t even grab my things. Someone else had to do that for me. I still worry about the rumours that may have come up from it.

But I tried to take it in stride. I’m honestly too busy completing applications and going into interviews to really focus on this a lot. It’s draining. And this is when I got an email suggesting a support group for others who have had it happen. After the situation with me, Social Security Scotland did an audit and found five other people who ended up having even less notice than me. At least two specifically asked someone in HR at Social Security Scotland about their ability to work there and was told it was ok. One even left a long term stable job to do so. And meanwhile the official blame is on a third party they used to verify things.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:51:55 GMT

In October 2022, I was hired on by Social Security Scotland in a temporary contract as part of the Fair Start Scotland programme. Because it was recommended to me, I thought nothing of it. I had to go through an ID verification and background check during which I used my Biometric Residence Permit to verify I could work for them and my American passport to prove my identity. I was transparent through my entire onboarding and paperwork about my Indefinite Leave to Remain. I was not asked for any other information nor was it in any way suggested it would be a problem.

I did eventually get some payment in lieu of notice as a courtesy but at the time I was under the naive hope that my job search would be fast so I didn’t stress too much. At the time, it hit me how I was basically escorted from the building on that day. Had I not already been in contact with a few people on WhatsApp and was able to send a Teams message to fellow PCS Union members before I left, I would have just essentially vanished. I couldn’t say bye and I couldn’t even grab my things. Someone else had to do that for me. I still worry about the rumours that may have come up from it.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:51:36 GMT

In October 2022, I was hired on by Social Security Scotland in a temporary contract as part of the Fair Start Scotland programme. Because it was recommended to me, I thought nothing of it. I had to go through an ID verification and background check during which I used my Biometric Residence Permit to verify I could work for them and my American passport to prove my identity. I was transparent through my entire onboarding and paperwork about my Indefinite Leave to Remain. I was not asked for any other information nor was it in any way suggested it would be a problem.

I did eventually get some payment in lieu of notice as a courtesy but at the time I was under the naive hope that my job search would be fast so I didn’t stress too much. At the time, it hit me how I was basically escorted from the building on that day. Had I not already been in contact with a few people on WhatsApp and was able to send a Teams message to fellow PCS Union members before I left, I would have just essentially vanished. I couldn’t say bye and I couldn’t even grab my things. Someone else had to do that for me. I still worry about the rumours that may have come up from it.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:51:05 GMT

In October 2022, I was hired on by Social Security Scotland in a temporary contract as part of the Fair Start Scotland programme. Because it was recommended to me, I thought nothing of it. I had to go through an ID verification and background check during which I used my Biometric Residence Permit to verify I could work for them and my American passport to prove my identity. I was transparent through my entire onboarding and paperwork about my Indefinite Leave to Remain. I was not asked for any other information nor was it in any way suggested it would be a problem.

I did eventually get some payment in lieu of notice as a courtesy but at the time I was under the naive hope that my job search would be fast so I didn’t stress too much. At the time, it hit me how I was basically escorted from the building on that day. Had I not already been in contact with a few people on WhatsApp and was able to send a Teams message to fellow PCS Union members before I left, I would have just essentially vanished. I couldn’t say bye and I couldn’t even grab my things. Someone else had to do that for me. I still worry about the rumours that may have come up from it.

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:49:29 GMT