Over the last several years, many companies have transitioned to fully remote workforces. However, this shift has presented several challenges, including the completion of Form I-9, which verifies the employment eligibility of new hires. With the recent updates to U.S. government regulations, it is now possible to complete Form I-9 remotely.
Why Remote I-9 Verification Is Essential for Businesses
As the modern workforce continues to evolve and remote work becomes more common, companies face the challenge of adapting their hiring processes to accommodate remote workers. A 2022 Gallup survey found that 30% of employees are working remotely, and 50% are working using a hybrid model, and this trend is expected to continue.
Remote I-9 verification has become essential for businesses hiring an entirely remote workforce or expanding their operations to multiple locations. Before the recent updates to U.S. government regulations, completing Form I-9 in person was required, which presented a challenge for remote workers who could not be physically present to share their documents with an authorized representative.
However, with the recent regulation changes, remote I-9 verification is now a viable option for companies. Under the updated regulations, companies can verify employment eligibility remotely for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, as long as the remote verification process meets specific requirements.
These requirements include using video conferencing technology to complete Section 2 of the I-9 form and obtaining, inspecting, and retaining copies of the required documents within three business days of the employee’s start date.
Remote I-9 verification can streamline hiring and save companies time and resources. It eliminates the need for physical paperwork and in-person meetings, benefiting companies operating in multiple locations. Remote verification can help businesses attract and retain top talent, especially in industries with high competition for skilled remote workers, such as technology, finance, and customer service. It also improves the candidate experience by offering a more flexible and convenient hiring process.
Remote I-9 Functionality with Your Onboarding Software
Cloud-based onboarding software with remote I-9 verification functionality provides a fast, accessible, and fully compliant verification process. With 100% remote I-9 verification, you can send new employees their I-9 in seconds so that they can get started on verification. Some software has built-in Section 1 guidance and allows new hires to delegate a friend or family member for Section 2 completion.
Automating this process remotely can boost accuracy and compliance with automated reminders, optical character recognition (OCR) technology, and autofill. These platforms also leave a sophisticated audit trail with IP address tracking, geolocations, and timestamps that protect you in case of an audit.
With convenient remote I-9 processing, you can reduce your candidate dropoff rate and reduce the need for time-consuming paperwork and administrative tasks for your HR team.
Streamline I-9 Verification for Your Organization
Embracing cloud-based onboarding software streamlines I-9 verification, saving your company time, reducing paperwork, and ensuring compliance. With integrated, remote I-9 processing, your organization can see boosted productivity and employee satisfaction. The right software provides a seamless onboarding experience that allows for remote and hybrid work arrangements in the post-pandemic landscape.
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