Questioning Job Candidates’ Citizenship is not Compliant in Business and at Work

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Another typical compliance error that I find on employers’ job applications is this question:

Are you a citizen of the United States?

This question is not compliant, as national origin is a key protected class in the great state of New York, opening up a Pandora’s box of employer national origin discrimination noncompliance. (A question about citizenship is considered to be a (noncompliant) question about a job candidate’s national origin.)

The correct / compliant question instead is:

Are you authorized to work for any employer in the United States?

The job candidate, if hired, will then be required to provide proof of work authorization within the first 3 days of employment by completing their portion of the mandatory I-9 form.

How do you ensure employer compliance with regard to a job candidate’s authorization to work, in business and at work?