Using Query Parameter When Data Cell Has Leading Spaces

In SQL Reporting I want the user to pass a parameter to the report; the parameter is a employee number. Easy right, you write a where statement like where table_name.employee_number =@employee_number. When the user runs the report they€™re asked to type in the number.

My problem is the dB stores the employee number with leading spaces padding the number out to 9, so if the user types in 1 they get jack, but if they type in €˜ 1€™ they get the right employee. I can€™t roll it out that way

I€™d do something in the where clause so the user could just type in 1 & it would auto pad out to 9 spaces. I€™ve tried using the €˜LIKE€™ clause & I€™ve tried using concatenate but so far neither works well.

I'd appreciate any advice

Thanks -- Vince