A new bill being considered in the Tennessee senate would require that more businesses use the E-Verify system to confirm that their employees are authorized to work in the United States. Tennessee employers with 50 or more employees are currently required to use E-Verify to check whether or not an employee is eligible to work in the U.S.

E-Verify is a web-based system that employers can use to confirm their employees’ identity as well as whether or not they are eligible to work in the United States. This is done by electronically matching the information the employer provides with the records of the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. For most employers, using E-Verify is a voluntary program. However, some federal contractors and subcontractors are required to use it.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Representative Clark Boyd, previously, the state chose to only require employers of 50 or more to use the system due to a lack of high-speed broadband internet access in the state. Now that this is no longer a serious issue, the bill would require more to use the internet-based service. The House bill that was introduced recommended that businesses employing 25 or more employees be required to use E-Verify, but the senate changed this to 35. Representative Boyd, who introduced the bill, is willing to accept this change.

Boyd believes the bill could help protect employers by shielding them from wrongdoing should an employee file for workers’ compensation as a result of being unlawfully terminated. He is also hoping that the bill will stop illegal immigrants from coming to Tennessee by ensuring employers use the E-Verify system to check for employment authorization.

However, Representative Yusuf Hakeem is not in favor of the bill. He believes the bill would be burdensome for small businesses at a time when they should be receiving support from the government. He also states that he would prefer that any illegal immigrants who are already living in the state be working. Hakeem states that they will try to make a living for themselves and their families and that he wants them to do this in a positive way which means working.

Employers must still file Form I-9 for all employees even when using E-Verify and completing the employment eligibility process and complying with the requirements can be confusing. It is easy to make costly mistakes because hiring personnel do not understand the requirements. However, these problems can be avoided with an electronic I-9 management tool that offers E-Verify integration. This can guide employers through the employment verification process and ensure hiring personnel know which documents are suitable to prove work authorization.

Our innovative I-9 Compliance tool will save you time and effort by quickly verifying your employment eligibility verification automatically.

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