Get the paperwork in order
After hearing the news about the actions at 7-Eleven, Michael Lied suggested the first thing retailers do is look through their I-9 forms. Lied, an attorney and counselor for Howard & Howard in Peoria, Ill, said these are the documents that certify employees’ eligibility to work stateside.
“Even if every team member is hired legally, incorrectly filled out I-9 forms could still cost c-store owners," Lied said. “Fines increased this last year,” he said. “It could cost them $200 to $2,000 per one form.”
If retailers do find errors on the forms, Lied recommends making changes and initialing to show officials good faith. In addition, electronically verifying legal employment with E-Verify also helps protect employers and might even become mandatory eventually, he said.