The ICE Homeland Security Investigation team will address how an I-9 audit works. The audits are meant to determine compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as it relates to employers.
Of most concern to seasonal employers, an employer cannot knowingly hire or continue to employ a person who is not work authorized, and there is no period of continued employment when the employer receives info that would cause a reasonable person to conclude the person is not work authorized. Some employers think they automatically get another 90 or 120 days while they "investigate" based on information that has been put out by various sources. Other topics include the recent prosecutorial discretion and work authorization program for young workers and other selected topics of interest.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Northwest regional attorney will explain EEOC discrimination investigations, with an emphasis on agriculture and other seasonal employers.
The EEOC is the federal agency charged with investigating and litigating claims of employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability and age that involve the terms and conditions of employment. Under the law, employers are required to cooperate in an agency investigation. Find out what's involved in an investigation and what types of cases the EEOC has litigated in the agricultural industry.
Whether you are transporting workers between orchards or crops to market, farmers face tough federal transportation rules. The Washington State Commercial Vehicle Guide is nearly 100 pages. We will summarize the rules for moving people and goods, particularly as they apply to agricultural employers. Attendees will receive a DOT rules summary pamphlet prepared by the Washington Farm Bureau.
The Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Divisionwill explain the agency’s recent minimum wage and child labor initiative, including the hot goods provisions of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
When an investigation by the DOL leads the agency to conclude a farm violated certain labor laws, the agency can consider the crop hot goods – meaning DOL would regard sale of the crop as a violation of federal law. The agency could advise a packing or processing facility not to move the crop. In order to prevent this, farms may be offered the opportunity to sign a consent decree, admitting guilt to the charges and agreeing to pay a fine and back wages, in exchange for the agency not moving ahead with a hot goods determination.
*All registrants will be emailed the recorded presentation and handouts post webinar to view at your convenience. Questions may be submitted through HRAnswers.
** We regret to inform you the ICE and DOL presentations WILL NOT be recorded. We apologize for the inconvenience. You must attend the live webinar. |
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