With a pandemic-era policy temporarily allowing remote Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) coming to an end at the end of July, some remote/hybrid US business owners are concerned about the ramifications on their operations, and their employees. But Joseph Boll, RemoteWorker CEO, says it may not be as dramatic a change as some think.

RemoteWorker is an online jobs board and resource website for remote workers, remote work jobseekers, and hiring managers, employers and HR personnel seeking to recruit and hire the top talent for remote positions.

“There is cause for concern and that is very real,” said Boll. “Not just for workers but for companies, it could add an extra step that makes hiring a bit tedious. At RemoteWorker, what we don’t want is for businesses that are currently remote or hybrid to get discouraged or bullied into returning to the office. This new change, or rather return to the old rules, just signals that remote businesses should adapt just like most did when they turned to remote work at the start of the pandemic.”

Several business owners likewise shared their thoughts with RemoteWorker, calling attention to the unique challenges the change will bring but also highlighting optimism that remote work can continue to thrive.

Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations at Bellhop, spoke about the challenges of having to mail in sensitive documents or hire a notary public to complete verification. “This will slow down the hiring process and make it prohibitive to hire workers in many foreign countries,” he said. “If this change also applies retroactively to workers hired in the past three years, many companies may be scrambling to comply with these requirements by the August deadline.”

Another executive, Ryan Farley, CEO of LawnStarter, noted that it would also raise questions about who would be responsible for related costs, such as travel to physical offices for verification or use of a third party. What’s more, “it could also undo all of the progress we've made in remote work, work-life balance and prioritizing mental health over the last few years.”

On the other hand, Susan Anderson, Founder & Lead Editor, The Worthy Goods, suggested that companies start exploring digital verification options now to better adapt as changes come. “One solution is to explore digital verification methods, allowing remote workers to securely complete the inspection through online platforms,” she said. “By embracing technology and remote-friendly processes, companies can effectively hire remote staff in the future.”

Even still, Miguel Camperos, VP of Operations at SunVara, reminded remote businesses that the DHS has issued a notice about possibly accepting alternative Form I-9 procedures, and the Final Rule on the matter has yet to come. “It's also worth noting that this may not be a significant issue for some remote workers, particularly if they are located relatively close to their employer's physical location,” he said. “For others who are farther away, the logistics could be more challenging, although the anticipated alternative procedures for remote document examination may alleviate some of these difficulties.”

In either case, Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO, Lawn Love, is confident that the end result is not going to permanently impact the world of remote working. “While this is certainly a major inconvenience, it’s not going to stop remote work from happening,” he said. “Employers who hired anyone remotely since the start of the pandemic should be aware that they need to plan for in-person verification now. There are still ways in which an authorized representative can be used.”

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About Remote Worker (US)
Remote Worker is designed to help hiring managers and businesses connect with job-seeking professionals for remote work positions. We are affiliated with Remote Worker (UK), ClickJobs.io, EcoCareers.org and Caribbean Employment Services Inc. For more information, visit https://www.remoteworker.jobs or contact [email protected].