With less than six months to go until the UK leaves the EU (and,
possibly, enters a transitional period that will last until January
1, 2021) it is worth taking stock of the EU workforce's
position in the UK, both in the event that a deal is reached and in
the less desirable scenario in which the UK leaves with immediate
effect and without transitional provisions on March 29, 2018.
The picture for employers is radically different depending on
the success or failure of the ongoing negotiations between Theresa
May's government and the EU.
If the UK and EU do reach an agreement on or before March 29,
2019, then we can be relatively confident about how EU nationals
who are resident in the UK prior to the end of the transition
period will be treated. Both parties have already agreed on the
approach and have taken steps to implement what is being called the
EU Settlement Scheme.