A 15-year employee worked under a false social security # and false green card. He’s now acquired legal status and has provided HR with his new social security # to update his file. It has now been established that he’s been working illegally all these years. What are the proper steps to take next as an employee?
Posted 11-09-2011
Ann Kiernan replies:
Wow! Fifteen years under a false identity! But, believe it or not, no law requires an employer to fire an employee who initially provided false documentation, and then later presented legitimate documentation.
Does your employee manual state that providing false documentation or information is a violation of your policies? Have you consistently enforced that policy? If so, termination certainly sounds appropriate. You could also report the faker to the Social Security Administration and the immigration authorities for using counterfeit documents, which may have been the products of identity theft.
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