Employment LAW and HR departments?

Can someone who knows about this aspect of the LAW please clear this up once and for all. No guess work please.

Is it now a legal requirement to provide a copy of your passport to the HR department of your employer?

UK question only.

The law requires employers to make checks on a potential employee's right to work in the UK; a passport is a commonly requested document. So, it's not a "legal requirement" to provide it, but you may not get the job if you don't. If you are a current employee, then the answer is more complicated, but they probably cannot dismiss you for not showing your passport, if it was not requested at the time of engagement.

If the employer requires the passport what's the big deal, provide it!

check with ACAS - what about those that don't have a passport?

You do need some sort of ID, not sure if it has to be a passport.

The answer is simple:

No, there is no such legal requirement in the UK. You are entitled to tell the HR department to sod off if they demand it.

However an employer is obliged to verify that a foreign national has the right to work in the UK before employing them. That may or may not require them to verify whether they have complied with their visa requirements.

No, it is not a legal requirement to have a copy of your passport.

BUT it is a legal requirement that they have undenieable proof of your nationality and citizenship and the passport is the only acceptable way of proving this