My Recruiting Blog

The United States government is rapidly changing the landscape, duties and responsibilities of the staffing industry in respect to the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to step up enforcement of immigration reforms.

In a newly announced initiative by DHS, an effort to develop hiring standards to guide the entire staffing industry has gotten underway. It is known as ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, the IMAGE program for short. Those partnering on the side of government are United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE), the branch of DHS charged with enforcing immigration and work-related eligibility mandates.

The IMAGE program is set to lead the Nation in education and training on proper hiring, fraudulent document detection, anti-discrimination procedures, and use of Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program. The Pilot Program acts as a bridge between the Social Security Administration Database and DHS immigration records. Both are useful tools for verifying the legal status of workers in the United States.

While IMAGE program is considered a volunteer effort, it is interesting to note there is only one staffing company, Staff Management of Chicago, Illinois, included in the 9 member charter group. This group intends to assist the federal government development of an industry standard for hiring practices in the United States. Under the program, ICE will share information with employers on the latest illegal schemes used to circumvent recruiting processes.

Image partnerships promote the use of tools, education and hiring best practices to ensure hiring a legal workforce in America. In addition, anti-discrimination procedures and use of the Basic Pilot Program for online Employment Verification Program are all included in the IMAGE agenda.

Those of you interested in assisting the government in developing hiring standards can partner with the program based on 2 criteria.

1. Must agree to I-9 audit and background check
   
2. Must verify Social Security Numbers of entire existing work forces utilizing Social Security Number Verification System (SSNVS)
   

Successful completion of the governmental program will include earning a professional designation from the government which deems your organization “IMAGE Certified”. This program will shape the best practices, policy, legislation and future enforcement at the work site level, as well as become the industry standard in staffing. Clearly if you or your company is involved in the staffing industry it is advisable to earn your particular certification now while the program is in its infancy. This program is free for employers in all 50 states across America.

Once again the United States government has sought to recruit employers into taking over a share of traditional governmental duties in respect to illegal hiring and enforcement. Although, despite the extra designation, establishing a new hiring standard in the staffing industry will benefit everyone. This alone should be worth the effort.

For further information visit http://www.ice.gov/partners/opaimage/index.html

Labels: Staffing and Recruiting