Recently, the U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill. In fact, the New York Times published quite a big article on it. You can find the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/us/politics/immigration-bill-clears-final-hurdle-to-senate-approval.html?_r=0 As a CEO, the verbiage in the bill will impact my company- and possibly yours. Here’s why;
Changes to the I-9 form have already happened. See the new one here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf The changes don’t really do more than confirm identify and verify a person’s right to work within the U.S. Before, these forms were basic but had to be completed on day one of a new job. This step still remains the same only now it allows for expanded information for an alien employee. The form is also longer and collects more information about every employee (citizen or alien) before a day’s work can be completed.
As a CEO, this new form can cause audit issues for a company. Simple errors can lead to major fines and a paperwork nightmare for the company. While all the aspects of employment and immigration reform are not kicking in right now (or will for years), the new I-9 form is here to stay.
Our company, of course, can help employees provide accurate forms and obtain correct documentation to prevent any issues, clerical errors, or misunderstandings. However, if you’re out there on your own- do the right thing. Get legal counsel to help you develop the right language and understand the new rules related to the hiring process. This investment will prevent future fines and possible audits.