What should you use as the hire date for employees?

The hire date for employees is typically defined as the date when the employee officially begins work, which aligns with the completion of the I-9 form. The I-9 form, used to verify identity and employment authorization in the United States, must be completed for employment to be legally recognized. Therefore, the date associated with the signing and processing of the I-9 reflects a concrete legal acknowledgment of the individual's employment status.

Choosing the date of the job offer doesn't accurately reflect the actual commencement of employment, as employees may not start working immediately after receiving an offer. Similarly, the date of training completion may not correspond to when the employee is officially part of the workforce, as training could occur before or after the official start date, depending on the company’s policies. The date of employment notification might reflect internal communication rather than the official start of work, which is marked by the I-9 completion.

Ultimately, using the date of the I-9 form ensures that the hire date aligns with regulatory requirements and accurately represents the official start of employment.