I-9 Audits Are On The Rise: Be Prepared

Audits of I-9 records quadrupled in 2018 over the prior year. That means nearly 6,000 employers were audited, which led to several dozen civil and criminal convictions. The agency involved — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) — "is carrying out its commitment to increase the number of I-9 audits in an effort to create a culture of compliance among employers," it stated upon releasing audit statistics. To accommodate the increase, HSI is beefing up its army of auditors.   "Most employers don't intentionally falsify I-9 forms or knowingly accept falsified ones from employees. They si...

It's a New Year! Time for a fresh start and a great opportunity to get organized and stay compliant. We know that running a compliant business requires a lot of organization. Whether you are part of a big team or handling HR for a small business, it's nice to get a little help. And, if you’ve already fallen behind a bit, don’t worry, this checklist can help you catch up.  Click Here to Download the Checklist

What are the largest companies on the Gulf Coast? Who are the fastest growing? The Business Observer's Top 500 edition features stories of the region's largest companies. Learn more about CertiPay in the 2018 edition.

The news is buzzing with E-Verify information. With so much focus in Washington on stemming illegal immigration and the erosion of job opportunities for U.S. citizens, chances appear better than ever that the E-Verify system will become mandatory. President Trump's 2018 budget proposal includes funds to upgrade the system so that it can handle greater capacity, that is if Congress authorizes requiring businesses to use it. Background: E-Verify is currently a voluntary federally administered electronic system designed to help employers verify the work eligibility and citizenship status of jo...

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There are no laws that require you to keep drug-abusing employees on your payroll. However, numerous restrictions, primarily state laws, dictate what you can and can't do. As with other sensitive personnel issues, it's important to develop a policy, communicate it clearly and enforce it consistently. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bans discrimination against employees who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse but are sober and in rehabilitation programs. In addition, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration frowns on post-incident mandatory drug tests. An example wou...

In Hurricane affected areas, we can all agree that storm preparedness is an important part of a business plan. It's crucial to begin your plan by picking the right individual to decide when employees should come to work, not come to work or do so at their own discretion. The person designated for the role should be given clear guidelines to help in those situations. Some smaller companies take the simple approach of piggybacking on the decision made by a large local employer. Of course, during your busiest times, you might have to pivot and continue operations regardless of what others do....

E-Verify is about to play a critical role under the Trump administration. The electronic service, launched in 1996, is primarily a voluntary web-based system, though it could soon become mandatory. E-Verify enables employers to quickly determine whether information supplied by job applicants on their I-9 forms is consistent with data held by the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. In effect, this is a faster version of the basic paper-based I-9 system. Employers submit I-9 data electronically, and, generally within a few seconds find out whether the in...

Employees who take an unpaid leave, per the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may need more than the 12-week limit. Deciding whether to promise an employee who exceeds the limit that he or she will have a job to return to takes a delicate balancing of compassion, practicality and legal risk analysis. That's because, if the extended absence is the end result of some form of disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) might also play a role in your decision. The enforcer of the ADA — the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — has never offered clear guidance on the topic....

On Dec. 22, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2018-06 to: Extend the due date for furnishing forms under Sections 6055 and 6056 for 2017 for 30 days, from Jan. 31, 2018, to March 2, 2018; and Extend good-faith transition relief from penalties related to 2017 information reporting under Sections 6055 and 6056. Notice 2018-06 does not extend the due date for filing forms with the IRS for 2017. The due date for filing with the IRS under Sections 6055 and 6056 remains Feb. 28, 2018 (April 2, 2018, if filing electronically). The IRS is encouraging reporting...