WASHINGTON -- Organizations representing hundreds of thousands of employers and tens of millions of employees are launching the More Time for Full-Time initiative. It will highlight what the groups say is the negative impact that the 30-hour work week definition in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) has on employees and employers.
It also urges Congress to restore the traditional definition of a full-time employee to 40 hours per week through bipartisan reform.
The groups include the National Retail Federation (NRF), National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), International Franchise Association, National Restaurant Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Rental Association, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, National Grocers Association and National Association of Theatre Owners.
This initiative has come together because employees in these industries are being squeezed by the Affordable Care Act's 30-hours-per-week definition of full-time employee, they said.
Returning to a traditional 40-hour definition would benefit employees through more hours and income, and employers would gain the ability to focus on growth and expansion instead of restructuring their workforce.
The launch includes a video, which will be featured on the new website, moretimeforfulltime.org, that highlights the challenges workers and employers face as a result of the 30-hour work week definition.
"Unless there is a statutory change to the definition of a full-time employee in the ACA, there will be fewer full-time jobs, more part-time workers and fewer overall hours available for Americans to work," said IFA president and CEO Steve Caldeira. "This initiative will bring greater focus to the negative impact this law is having for workers and employers and hopefully move us closer to the bipartisan reform we need."
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"As the current health care law stands, the artificially low bright line of 30 hours as full time forces employers to limit that flexibility, stifling opportunity for expansion and job creation to the detriment of our workforce," NRA president and CEO Dawn Sweeney said. "Raising the law's definition of full-time employee status to more traditional standard operating practices will alleviate the burden placed on restaurant operators. They can then continue to provide flexibility to their employees, grow their businesses and continue to be job creators."
"The retail industry is committed to the smooth implementation of the Affordable Care Act," NRF vice president for health policy Neil Trautwein said. "However, for the health care law to work effectively, practical and necessary modifications need to occur, including readjusting the law's definition of what constitutes a full-time worker back to 40 hours a week. Returning to the industry standard of 40 hours would benefit employers and employees alike and lessen the burden Obamacare places on businesses and the economy. The retail community supports the bipartisan work of the 'More Time for Full-Time' initiative and looks forward to working with the administration and Congress to make this change a reality."
U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive vice president for government affairs Bruce Josten said, "Nobody benefits when employees lose the flexibility they value or the work and income they rely upon and employers face yet another obstacle to managing their workforce in a challenging economic climate. Restoring the traditional 40-hour work week is a small but needed change that benefits everyone. A majority in the House understands this. Now we need the Senate and President Obama to understand this as well."
"The 30-hour work week definition complicates and confounds the employees and employers of businesses. A 40-hour week provides opportunity for employment that drives a business and builds our communities through the resulting economic benefit. Businesses want to employ a capable and dependable workforce and provide them a 40-hour work week they can depend on. The definition of full time needs to be increased to 40 hours," said ARA vice president of government affairs John McClelland.
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