Electronic Form I-9 systems have brought efficiency and ease of oversight to the processing, storing, and purging of Forms I-9 like no paper system could ever hope to do. With paper Form I-9 records they were typically just stored away, rarely revisited, and likely never purged. Electronic I-9’s have made it incredibly simple to maintain proper long term storage of these files.
The reports available to the Program Administrator, when used effectively can help your organization stay ahead of any compliance issues, including retention and purging.
Did you know each time you terminate an I-9, Lookout automatically calculates a retention date for that I-9. You don’t have to determine if you need to keep it for 1 year or 3 years. That is all done for you. But why bother? You might be thinking “better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
Well, that old adage doesn’t always hold true. If those records are lost or stolen, your organization could potentially be liable for any resulting identity theft. And in an I-9 audit you can be fined for mistakes and errors even on forms that you should have purged.
It is very important that your Program Administrator understand and be trained on all areas of Form I-9 management, including retention and purging.
If you require instruction or assistance on how to perform these tasks in the Lookout system, please contact Customer Support at 713-668-6200 x2. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you in your I-9 processing.