E-Verify, a mostly voluntary electronic verification program since 1996, will probably lose the “mostly,” according to industry professionals such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Currently, the program is mandatory for federal contractors, some state contractors, and employers who want to take advantage of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training when hiring foreign graduates of U.S. colleges. However, the White House in its 2018 budget is calling for mandatory usage to certify employees work eligibility.
E-Verify enables businesses to check the legal status of workers and terminate anyone who fails to meet eligibility requirements. Currently, companies submit information reported on an employee’s Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 to the Department of Homeland Security. E-Verify reviews Social Security Administration data to determine if employees are authorized to work in the U.S.
The main questions surrounding E-Verify are when it will roll out and if the process can be streamlined, according to Signet Screening President Matt Messersmith.
“Industry experts believe this is a when, not if, situation. What we don’t know yet is how long the roll-out period will be – 1 year, 3 years or 5 years,” says Matt. “We also hope that E-Verify will strengthen its technology to prevent identity theft and eliminate the need for the paper I-9 form.”
While there are still unresolved issues, companies do need to prepare for the additional steps in the hiring process to be compliant with mandatory regulations and avoid discrimination. Signet Screening is dedicated to help provide the latest industry information to our clients.
For more information about E-Verify or other pre-employment screening processes, please contact us online or at 513-330-6695.
