The October 2026 Right to Work check
Right to Work responsibilities are changing from 1 October 2026. Use this checklist to see where the new rules could affect your business, and what you may need to review.
Mindset HR
What’s inside
From 1 October 2026 the Right to Work scheme expands beyond a traditional employee. Depending on how you engage people, it can cover worker’s contracts, individual subcontractors and online matching services. This 10-page checklist walks through where those rules can apply, and the five areas to review before the date.
- Map every route people use to come into your business and work
- Establish who is responsible for the Right to Work check in each arrangement
- Review contracts, including subcontractors and substitution
- Check that onboarding collects and keeps the right evidence
- Brief the managers who recruit and onboard
Updated September 2026. General information for employers, not legal advice. It reflects Home Office guidance available at that time, and responsibilities depend on the arrangements in your own business.
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Found a gap?
If the checklist raises questions about your workers, subcontractors, onboarding or the Right to Work process you already have, we can review what is in place and what needs attention before 1 October.