If you look at our times philosophically and with a sense of historical perspective, you may see many of us have replaced our sense of involvement and community with social, business and web-based networking initiatives.  We really haven't changed much. We all have a need to commune with likeminded people.  It might be neighbors, town-folk or congregation.  We all find our way.  Today, web-based networking initiatives are used by young and old alike. MySpace, YouTube, FaceBook, Flickr and Twitter have found their way into our daily lives, like it or not.  Business people use LinkedIn, Google Groups, Mind-Manager and a host of other industry specific work groups.  It is astounding the number of people that communicate with friends -- and strangers.  These web-based networking systems have changed the way we communicate and the numbers are staggering.

Web based networking

• FaceBook: 175 million users
• Flickr: 33 million
• Linkedin: 38 million users
• MindManager: 1.3 million
• MySpace: 32 million
• Twitter: 8 million
• YouTube: 100+ million views daily

Networking groups

• BNI:  115,000
• Chamber of Commerce: 20 million
• Vistage: 14,000
• Partnerup: n/a

Are you ready to participate in the global community?  Do you see an advantage to linking you and your organization with the world?  How can you benefit from connecting to 38 million people?   How is it different from chatting with your neighbor over the picket fence?   

After several revisions and delivery extensions, the new and improved Form I-9 has been issued by the Federal Government.  Form I-9 , a mandatory employment form since 1986, is used to document that the employee (citizen and non-citizen) is authorized to work in the United States. 
 
Major Changes:

• The employee must complete Form I-9 no later than their hire date (Employees had up to three(3) days from hire to complete the form)
• Expired documents have been eliminated - List of Acceptable Documents (Prior to this version of the form, expired documentation was acceptable)

Additional Form I-9 Changes:

•  Form I-688, I-688A and I-688B are no longer acceptable
• Passports from  the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) are now accepted
• Passports with temporary I-551 stamps or printed notation on a machine readable immigrant visa may be accepted 

Did you know...

• Documents without expiration dates do not expire (example: Social Security Card)
• Employees hired under the age of 18 must also complete and sign a Form I-9
• Form I-9's are retained by the employer and not submitted to the government
• Non-employees do not complete a Form I-9  (example: not on the payroll)
• Form I-9 must be completed as part of the re-verification process when an employee's work authorization documentation is expiring 
• Employees hired before April 3, 2009 do not need to complete the new Form I-9 unless re-verification is required.
• Form I-9 may not be completed by the employer on behalf of the employee
• Employer may be fined for not completing Form I-9 for all employee hires
• Form I-9 is also available in Spanish
• New hires should receive the Form I-9 prior to their hire date to ensure the form can be completed and Acceptable Document List documents reviewed on their start date.  (Note - employee must provide document originals)

All employers must use the new Form I-9 beginning April 3, 2009.
Employers may download the new Form I-9 with instructions (OMB No. 1615-0047)  and the accompanying Handbook for Employers (M-274) by going to   
www.uscis.gov/forms or calling 800-375-5283. 

Donna Marie Barry, President & CEO
db consulting group inc.
Specializing in HR, HCM, Compliance & Management Consulting
dbarry.dbconsultinggroup@gmail.com