Compliance with federal regulations is not something to be trifled with. Penalties for noncompliance are steep, including fines and other punitive measures as well as potential prison time. So while it is certainly possible to take your chances and skirt federal mandates, it’s just not a good idea.
Notably, it is also possible to drive a car with a blindfold.
Occasionally, clients ask us if it is worth the effort to maintain compliance—how likely are people to get caught, and if they do, is it that big of a deal?
While there is no such thing as a stupid or silly question, we can’t help but quietly roll our eyes when we hear this. Sure, it’s possible…but why do it? Why assume a higher risk profile than necessary?
At the end of the day, every company must make a decision about the level of risk they are willing to carry, but at TrendSource, we are very much of the ‘better safe than sorry’ ethos.
Compliance is Serious Business, and it is Seriously Overwhelming
Oftentimes, the daily tasks that go into maintaining compliance are simply too much for businesses. Particularly with employment eligibility requirements, the chore of completing Form I-9 for every New Hire can prove burdensome to Human Resources departments.
It’s true, HR teams are currently overwhelmed with the constant hiring cycle, back-to-the-office initiatives, and a whole host of other issues coloring the modern employment landscape. Adding a rote and somewhat complicated compliance task to their already growing to-do list can be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
And that is assuming everything goes right.
When Things Go Wrong, Companies Fall Out of Compliance
But nowadays, with recent changes to Form I-9, companies are invited to complete I-9s virtually with their New Hires. While the convenience and relative cost (free!) are certainly a boon to employers, this opens them to significant risks if (and, let’s be honest, when) something goes wrong.
All it takes is one simple error or two on the New Hire’s end and, poof, the employer has fallen out of compliance, sometimes without even knowing it.
TrendSource Virtual I-9 Verifications
This is an eventuality that compliance management firms like TrendSource help businesses guard against with Virtual I-9 Verifications. By outsourcing employment eligibility compliance to TrendSource, businesses can rest assured that their New Hires are completing Form I-9 accurately and efficiently.
Such measures should offer businesses peace of mind, knowing they are going the extra mile to ensure they remain in compliance while also adding efficiency to their operations.
So, consider TrendSource Virtual I-9 Verifications. Because it’s not worth it to risk falling out of compliance and because no HR manager has ever complained about getting I-9s taken off their plates.4
