SmartBusinessPractices: What Works for Me

"The easiest way to verify legal employees is to call the Social Security line at 1-800-772-6270 weekdays from 7 am to 7 pm EST. You need your EIN, the employee's SS#, Name, Date of Birth and gender. In less than one minute the SS# can be verified. This is the method I use for all my business related hires including the owners of businesses that contract for services with us."
submitted by a Smart Business Owner from Southwest, California

"Don't hire people who are not supposed to be here. They cannot participate in any company benefit programs since they're using bogus Social Security numbers. Avoid the temptation of providing cheaper services by using cheap labor. In the end you are just destroying your company and the construction industry as a whole."
Dave Slinkard, president of a Turlock, California painting company
(excerpted from Slinkard's column in The Modesto Bee, May 12, 2005)

"Every citizen should be alert and must only employ and support companies that pledge to employ only legal workers. All companies are able to confirm all employees' legal work status by using the federal employment verification program that is provided free by the federal government. There can be no excuses. Yard and pool services, restaurants, contractors, golf courses, retail stores, et al. -- all must hire only legal workers. Authorities should put employers who don't confirm the legality of their employees out of business and, if necessary, behind bars. Our brave service men and women throughout the world are giving their lives to protect our freedom. While they're away doing such noble work, let's protect our freedom here at home by putting an end once and for all to this silent, illegal invasion being supported by our local businesses."
Ebba Gamer, president of Citizens for a Better Community in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
(excerpted from Gamer's editorial column in The Island Packet, May 22, 2005)

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This page serves as a clearinghouse of information for employers and small business owners who want a legal workforce and fair competition. If you're that kind of employer, then please share your knowledge, insight, and tips with likeminded employers.

For example, if you have used the Basic Pilot Program, which enables employers to quickly and easily verify the work authorization of their newly hired employees, SmartBusinessPractices.com and your fellow patriotic employers would like to hear from you. Maybe you have discovered techniques for ensuring that competitors aren't getting an unfair advantage by hiring illegal foreign workers. If so, please share that tip. Or, if you have discovered ways to comply more easily with certain employment laws or to file government forms or to get a competitive edge by attracting better, legal workers, by all means, tell us your success story.

Please send us your experiences and how-to's that make for smart business practices via our Share Your Tip page and we'll consider your advice for future publication on this page.