On Tuesday, April 9th 2019, Green and Spiegel U.S. Practice Director, Jonathan Grode, and Mountain West Practice Director, Amy Jill Novak, convened with a panel of local business leaders at the Vail Symposium in Edwards, CO. These lawyers and business people met to talk about immigration law and policy, specifically the challenges for companies who hire seasonal foreign workers. Topics included foreign worker visas, the visa process, compliance, and removal practices.
The main takeaway was that unemployment rates are at an all-time low, leaving local businesses with few options to find seasonal workers. New rules and regulations are making it increasingly difficult to obtain visas and hire foreign workers that would normally fill these positions. During the Trump Administration, workplace enforcement actions have increased significantly. In addition to 1-9 regulations, the administration is now focused on businesses which hire temporary seasonal workers too. It is a tightrope walk for employers and more important than ever to have a pragmatic approach to hiring, especially when needing to rely on foreign nationals to fill gaps in the labor market.
For assistance with obtaining business-based visas and to ensure company compliance when hiring temporary workers, contact us. Green and Spiegel has the knowledge and experience to help businesses succeed in the ever changing employment immigration arena.
