Critical friends are normally employees of other universities who provide a service to the University of York by reviewing submissions being made by York staff.

They are identified and engaged locally by departments, who provide the individual with a letter of engagement.

Employment status

Some critical friends are engaged as workers who will be paid through the University payroll. Others are engaged as self-employed workers and are paid through the Payments Office. The engagement letter should, along with details of the work to be done and the rate of pay, specify the employment status of the worker.

Self-employed

An individual wanting to be paid on a self-employed basis needs to undergo an employment status check. The check is is carried out by Payroll and must be completed before any work begins.

• Employment status checklist (Payroll)

Worker

If the check shows the work arrangements do not meet the criteria for self-employment, they should be treated as a worker, which means a satisfactory right to work check must be in place before any work begins.

• Right to work checks for casual workers

Remote workers

In many circumstances, critical friends do not attend University campus to deliver the work. In these circumstances, we can offer a 'remote' right to work check.

An overview of acceptable right to work documents is outlined here.

• GB / Irish citizens with an in-date British or Irish passport will be issued a guest link to verify their identity with TrustID (a third party identity service provider) before arranging a video call with HR to complete the right to work check.
• GB / Irish citizens with any other documents must post the original document(s) to the University before arranging a video call with HR to complete the right to work
• Visa holders must provide HR with a share code before arranging a video call with HR to complete the right to work check.

Critical friends who are based overseas and who do not perform any of their duties in the UK are exempt from a right to work check.