Employco Blog

Beginning Nov. 1, 2023, employers are required to use the newest version of Form I-9. This form, provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services, has been available since August, but the prior version was accepted through Oct. 31, 2023. Employers that continue to use the outdated Form I-9 after Nov. 1 will be subject to penalties.

The updated Form I-9 includes updated instructions and many notable changes, including the following:

• Sections 1 and 2 have been reduced to a single sheet.
• The preparer/translator certification area has been moved to a standalone supplement (Supplement A) that employers can use as necessary for initial verification or recertification.
• Section 3 (Reverification and Rehire sections) has been moved to a standalone supplement (Supplement B) that employers can use as necessary.
• The list of acceptable documents now includes some acceptable receipts, guidance, and links to information on automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation.

Winter is the busiest time for many organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, retailers added 509,300 jobs during the 2022 holiday season alone.

Many employers hire seasonal workers to help manage the demands of the holiday season. For example, online retailers often see a surge in activity around the holidays, as do organizations in hospitality. Yet, bulk hiring workers can present unique challenges for employers, who often must recruit and train employees in a short period of time. While these employees may only be employed for the holiday season, they represent an employer’s brand and can meet the demands and obligations of customers, which ultimately affects an organization’s bottom line.

The call from workers for pay transparency and equity has never been louder or more essential than it is today. Pay transparency is the practice of openly sharing compensation information, such as pay rates and salary ranges, with applicants, employees, and sometimes the public; pay equity is the process of reducing salary disparities among workers performing substantially similar work.

Employees value pay transparency and equity because they provide workers with a clear understanding of how their compensation is determined, helping to develop trust with their employer and improve morale, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. They can also empower employees to make more informed career decisions, negotiate competitive wages, and advocate for themselves effectively.