This is part 4 of a 12 part series courtesy of your regional Paychex representative, Rob Tiernan. This series identifies a dozen significant regulatory topics of importance to small businesses in 2012. Some of these issues will lead to legislative changes and others to simple rule modifications. Regardless of the level of government attention they receive, these initiatives could require employers to make significant adjustments to the way they manage their businesses. If you have any questions or comments please follow up with Rob by email at: rtiernan@paychex.com
4. Immigration
The U.S. government, in particular Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is strengthening efforts to crack down on the employment of illegal immigrants through rigorous worksite enforcement and paperwork inspection of companies of all sizes. ICE opened their first Employment Compliance Inspection Center this year intended to handle audits for the largest employers, leaving the existing and expanding number of ICE field auditors to continue to concentrate on smaller employers in 2012.
In 2012, specific state laws across the country will require more private-sector employers to register and use the federal E-Verify system for employee verification, and most federal contractors and subcontractors will continue to be required to use E-Verify to determine employment eligibility where applicable. The system is an online program overseen by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that provides instant verification of work authorization. To confirm employment eligibility, it compares information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to data on the employee’s Form I-9.6 Congressional immigration reform proposals, which may include further federal employment verification obligations, are also possible in 2012
Check back next week for part 5 .