New Extension by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Remote Employers While Employers Prepare for I-9 Audits in 2021! Learn How the Flexibility Can Impact I-9 Audits

Although COVID-19 has shifted its focus on Vaccines in the workplace, the Department of Homeland Security continues to extend flexibility for remote employees when completing their I-9 Forms. DHS has expanded this option until May 31, 2021.

While this flexibility is helpful to Employers, it only impacts remote employees. These Employers must understand that they are still required to reverify documents for those remote employees when normal operations resume. They also must have a policy in place.

As immigration remains at the center of national attention, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not just stepping up its enforcement efforts at the border they are increasing their efforts.

ICE has said it plans to conduct as many as 15,000 I-9 audits per year if it receives sufficient funding, and that one of its goals is to create a “reasonable expectation” among employers that they will be audited. They did receive the funding.  Accordingly, all employers should be prepared.

Generally, ICE enforces an employer’s obligation to verify, and re-verify, the work authorization of all new employees. ICE may enforce this responsibility through random I-9 compliance audits or through a narrower investigation based on a lead.

The lead can be an anonymous tip or facts that form a reasonable suspicion of an employer’s non-compliance. ICE has been concentrating its recent enforcement efforts on investigations, not random audits like previously.

These investigations have focused on all industries viewed as employing a large percentage of unauthorized workers (e.g., the construction industry, landscaping, manufacturing, or agricultural industry). However, there are still efforts by ICE to continue investigations in the workplace.

This I-9 form preparation, correction, and audit webinar will be a step-by-step process and discussion of all the new guidelines for completing the new I-9 form as well as the ongoing regulations for an appropriate method of correcting this document without incurring fines and penalties.

Areas Covered:-

• COVID-19 has shifted the focus to regulatory agencies. Learn how the extension of the flexibility for remote employees still has requirements that have to be provided by Employers
• Although the I-9 document appears like a simple document, more than 72% of Employers have I-9 Documents with errors;
• I-9 documents can be audited by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and many DHS investigators know this is a weakness for most Employers;
• Inappropriate storage of I-9 documents in employee’s personnel files can lead to discrimination claims;
• Disgruntled employees can turn in Employers for I-9 document violations which will bring DHS to your doorstep!
• How is the right way to correct I9 documents and save your company from unnecessary violations?
• What is the minimal risk Employers have when establishing an I9 document Correction & Storage Process?
• Learn if outsourcing your internal I-9 Audit can save you time and protect the company from ICE audits
• How long should I9 documents be retained for active and terminated employees?
• Why are most HR professionals or those responsible for processing I9 documents still violating the request for documents section?
• What can you do if you have remote employees when it comes to I9 forms using the DHS extended I-9 Form remote option.
• Learn about guidelines on how to prepare for an audit from DHS.

Tools and Benefits:-

Free Internal Audit, Correction, and Storage Toolkit for All Attendees!  Includes:

• Excel Matrix to insert corrections, purging dates, and expiration of documents and to add your organization’s Logo
• Active/Termination Employee Log Sample
• I9 Memo Template Explaining Errors
• Internal/External Certification Audit Template
• I-9 Audit Guide: a step by a step resource guide

Why Should You Attend?

Anyone can make a claim or complaint and it does not even have to be true. Additionally, now the regulatory agencies are communicating more than ever before. Research has proven that most complaints come from disgruntled employees and others come from audits of targeted industries.

Attend this webinar to understand how to fill the I-9 form, how to correct it, and audit it. Learn what the best practices to follow to save your company from unnecessary violations?

Who Should Attend?

• All Employers
• Business Owners
• Company Leadership
• Compliance professionals
• Payroll Administrators
• HR Professionals
• Managers/Supervisors
• Employers in all industries
• Small Business Owners
• Large Business Owners
• All Employers