Hiring Paperwork You Will Encounter
When you are looking for a job, there are many papers that you will be required to fill and sign. It is however important to know what hiring paperwork is necessary and within the legal requirements. You should never sign anything without the help of a qualified lawyer lest you tie your own hands by getting into contracts with an employer that you cannot live up to or infringe on your rights. When you get hired be careful and go through each paper that is presented to you before you put your signature on it. Here is a look at the most common hiring paperwork documents you are likely to come across and what they are for.
W-4
This is a legal form that everyone in the US must fill. It informs the IRS of your tax filing status and how much of your salary will be withheld as income tax. This form will not just need to be filled on your first day at work but also subsequently on an annual basis. It should also be updated when your financial or personal status change.
I-9
Every employee that is placed on payroll by an employer must complete an I-9 form as is required by law. This is an Employment Eligibility Verification Form which declares that the employee is authorized to work in the United States. For this, identification and work status information needs to be provided.
Labor code §2810.5 Notice
This is a specific requirement for those who will be working in California. This form will contain the information that is required by the aforementioned labor code.
Other states will have different legal requirements depending on the state laws. Be sure to confirm what these are and fill all the hiring paperwork that you are required to.
In-house documents
The employer will most probably require you to fill several other forms with details they deem necessary. There are many documents which will differ from one employer to the other. Commonly these will include:
- Contact forms which will entail your physical address and other contact details for easy communication in case of any occurrences at the workplace.
- Job description entailing details of the job which the employer will use to monitor your performance.
- Employee handbook which outlines what the expected conduct of everyone at the workplace is. You will often be required to sign an acknowledgement to abide by this so be sure to fully understand every clause before signing.
- Employer property receiving and handling documentation. When you are handed keys, identification cards and other company property you will be required to sign that you have received and acknowledge to abide by the set regulations.
Third-party documents
The most common are documents by insurance providers who cover the employees medical and other policies. Some companies also outsource functions like payroll handling and others. Documents showing you agreeing to this need to be signed.
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