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Refugees and Asylees Have the Right to Work

Hosted on December 2, 2020, this training was delivered by Liza Zamd, Senior Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Immigrant and Employee Rights Section; and Daniel Wilkinson, Program Manager for Economic Empowerment, Switchboard.  

Have you ever had an employer request a specific employment authorization document from a client, even when that client had other acceptable work authorization documents? Are delays in receiving social security cards or other employment authorization documents creating challenges for early employment? Have you heard that it’s legal for clients to begin work without a social security card, but wondered if that’s true?  Did you know there is a government office dedicated to educating employers on immigrant workers’ rights and preventing discrimination against immigrant employees? This webinar includes a special guest presentation from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. Trial Attorney Liza Zamd’s presentation includes real case scenarios and is followed by a Q&A panel discussion featuring refugee service providers.

This webinar is aimed at all service providers who help prepare refugees, asylees, and other clients for employment or interact directly with employers (job readiness instructors; employment specialists; job developers; case managers, etc.). Others who are interested in the topic of employment rights and documentation are welcome to attend.

By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:  

  • Name the various documents that clients can use to prove work authorization;
  • List strategies and resources that you can use when educating clients and employers about employment documents and rights; and
  • Identify the circumstances in which an employer may be discriminating against clients and the actions you should take in these situations.

Navigate this webinar with the timestamps listed below: 

0:00 – Introduction to Switchboard

6:11 – Introduction to Speaker and Objectives

11:30 – IER Hotlines

16:09 – Citizenship Status Discrimination

19:06 – National Origin Discrimination

21:42 – Unfair Documentary Practices

21:58 – Form I-9

29:00 – Common Document Questions

38:18 – E-Verify

40:37 – Intimidation and Retaliation

43:03 – Filing a Charge

43:41 – Recommended Resources

45:51 – Conversation Circle