One of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as it pertains to the employer mandate, is large companies having to offer employee benefits to all of their workers, provided they work 30 hours a week or more. But a movement is afoot that would restore the definition of what qualifies as a full-time worker to 40 hours.
In a recent party line vote, the U.S House of Representatives passed the Save American Worker Act. House Resolution 2575 aims to alter the definition of a full-time worker to 40 hours per week, potentially giving many companies a reprieve from the health care coverage requirement.
Though it still needs to pass the U.S. Senate, the National Federation of Independent Business advised legislators to do what it takes to enable the ratification of H.R. 2575.
"Small businesses across America today applaud the House for passing legislation to amend one of the more disastrous aspects of the health care law – affirming full-time employment as the widely-accepted 40 hour work week," said Dan Danner, president and CEO of the NFIB. "By bringing the Affordable Care Act in line with common labor practices, the House has moved to bolster jobs, protect workers' hours, and reduce employers' penalty taxes and compliance burdens. The Senate should act quickly to pass this bipartisan, common sense change that will protect workers, provide some relief for small business owners, and create greater certainty for the economy."
Indiana Rep. Todd Young, the bill chief sponsor, added that restoring the traditional definition of the 40-hour work week can help increase the number of jobs available by providing more financial comfort for entrepreneurs, many of whom aren't hiring because of the ACA.
In a recent poll performed by the National Small Business Association, 33 percent of respondents said that they were not hiring due to the effects of the health care law.
