As many employers are discovering, several federal government services are temporarily disabled during the current government shutdown. One such service used by tens of thousands – and required by many -- employers across the country is E-Verify. Many employers are continuing to hire new employees but are uncertain about how to use E-Verify or what to do while they are unable to use it. Here are some practical steps to consider.

First, this is not a reason to choose not to hire an applicant; nor is it a reason to scrutinize an applicant’s documents more closely out of a fear that the individual may not clear E-Verify at some future date. Indeed, doing so may expose your company to liability for document abuse discrimination.