Utah Business Ignoring E-Verify Law

“Thousands of Utah companies may be breaking state law by hiring employees without using a federal work status verification program, but officials aren’t concerned and there’s no rush for businesses to comply because they face no penalties.” As of July 1, 2010, companies in Utah with more than 15 employees were required to check the legal status of new workers, however only about 3,000 companies, as of Friday, July 9, 2010 were doing so. Gov. Gary Herbert stated he wasn’t surprised by the few sign-ups, though he agreed that the companies could be violating the law if they hired any employees in the state without signing up for the federal program to check work status. “The E-verify law is designed to make it harder for undocumented workers to find employment in the state and, so the reasoning goes, curb the population of people residing there illegally.” Rep. Chris Herrod attributes the low sign-up numbers to the fact that companies may not yet know they are required to use the program. Herrod said “This is disappointing. Most laws don’t require someone to do something, they’re passive. This actively requires them to do something.”  To ready the full article click here.