We have talked a lot recently about the ways that the renewed in-person verification requirements for Form I-9 will force companies to make some tough choices when it comes to onboarding. We’ve described the expenditure of bringing in remote employees to company HQ as cost prohibitive. But what do we mean by that?
Let’s break it down.
This summer, roundtrip domestic flights will average $349, and anecdotally are up to quadruple digits for some cross-country routes. The average business hotel price is currently $171/night. And anybody who travels to Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, or New York will tell you that you can’t sniff a business hotel for less than double that per night.
So, on the low end, we are talking $520 per New Hire to fly into company HQ, spend one night, and fly back to their home. All to complete their in-person I-9 Verifications.
That’s $520 for each new remote hire. This means that if a company hires ten remote employees over the course of the year, they will have spent about $5,200 on travel and accommodations. This says nothing of feeding the new hire, transporting them to and from the airport, and likely showing them a good time at some point on their trip.
And again, keep in mind, we are talking about the low end of costs here—short route domestic flights to mid-sized urban areas. When considering longer flights to more in demand business centers, those costs go up quite quickly.
Whether Cost Prohibitive or Merely Inefficient, Bringing Remote Workers to Company HQ is Not Realistic for Most Businesses
For some companies, this is mere chump change, a rounding error that can easily be absorbed as the cost of doing business and hiring talented remote employees.
Bur for smaller companies working to stay afloat and drive profits, every expense counts, and it is a near negligent oversight to build so much cost and logistical work into the onboarding process.
This has led companies to seek out more practical solutions for onboarding and completing Section 2 of Form I-9 (the section that must be completed in person). Fortunately, DHS permits companies to select Authorized Representatives to complete the form with their New Hire, at the New Hire’s location.
While there is an associated cost for such services, the costs pale in comparison to the aforementioned cost of bringing New Hires into company HQ.
Even if companies can afford the added travel and accommodation expenses, it’s just not good business to spend where you don’t have to.
TrendSource Remote I-9 Verifications Save Companies Money While Fulfilling I-9 In-Person Requirements
TrendSource Remote I-9 Verifications are a cost-effective, low-lift solution for employers and their New Hires. They fulfill the in-person requirements by pairing New Hires with a Field Agent from TrendSource’s proprietary, nationwide database.
Field Agents, acting as Authorized Representatives, arrange to meet New Hires at a mutually convenient location and they complete Section 2 of Form I-9 together.
Completed I-9s are quickly available for employers on their client dashboard.
Simple, cost-effective, user-friendly, and available to order online, TrendSource Remote I-9 Verifications are the clear solution to the mounting financial and logistical cost of onboarding remote employees.
