Have you or folks you know been cut to 28 hours/week?

[cthulu2016]

Last edited Fri Aug 2, 2013, 07:55 PM - Edit history (6)

I am curious how widespread this is, and what people affected think about it.

In Obamacare, there's an out for employers not having to provide plans for people working 28 hours/week or less.

Even though this has not even kicked in yet, I know people who have been cut to 28 hours at ostensibly full-time retail jobs. (And encouraged to blame Obama for it.)

I assume that most people would blame their employer for cutting their hours since the employer is, in fact, the one cutting their hours, and not blame that darn Obamacare. Not all, but hopefuly most.


Something about this policy that I want to shine a light on. This tactic would not be possible in a properly functioning economy.

The idea that a 28 hour week is a long term fix for any employer requires that we never get anywhere near full employment. In a normal employment market you could not hire good people who are seeking full-time jobs for a 28 hours/week job.

This is a case of high unemployment, and little other than high unemployment, providing business with the leverage to effectively opt out of Obamacare.

Everything is connected... and in an economy, even more so. I am sure there were people in 2009 who said that without something approaching full employment employers would be able to do this, but the folks in charge didn't really "get" the employment crisis in 2009, expecting a magical rebound. (I supported the ACA then and do now, but do not support our nation's approach to the employment collapse.)

[liberal N proud]

1. Majority of Wal-Mart workers

[phleshdef]

2. You are correct, until we reach full employment, employees are competing for employment.

But with full employment, the tables get turned and employers start competing for employees, which means they have to offer benefits, better hours and better pay.

[uponit7771]

3. relatively speaking the fact that they have a job now is a good thing, relatively speaking...

...Obama could've done the Hoover thing but he didn't

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. Businesses Using ACA As Excuse To Do What They Planned All Along.

[daleanime]

5. Our entire crew....

until just this last month.



Do you know what it looks like to watch people try to live on 27 hours a week of minimum wage?

[cthulu2016]

9. It's awful. If it was 3 nine hour days then

someone could plausibly get a second job, but five 5.5 hour days makes a second job all but impossible, since the primary job doesn't defer to the second job's schedule.

[daleanime]

15. Exactly.

And they don't like it if some one picks up a second job, makes scheduling harder to do.

[TexasTowelie]

6. A clear example of selfishness,

the employers care more about their bottom line than the welfare of their employees. In a strong economy, anybody that has the ability to get away from that situation will take it which means that the dregs are left behind. It isn't a way to build a successful business when employee retraining becomes a constant within the business.

[Safetykitten]

7. Yes. Many. AND...the hours they do work at are at the whim of the employer.

Of course the 2015 new ACA rule is there, but they are doing it.

*Tapping fingers waiting for full time/benefits person to reply that this is bullshit.*

[LWolf]

8. Yes. nt

[Fumesucker]

10. I've posted to GD about a friend who had this happen to them recently

So, yes.

[David Krout]

11. no nt

[cthulu2016]

12. Can't wait for the 11th post

Welcome to DU

[bigwillq]

13. Yes. Several folks I know.

Damn, Corporate America. Screwing us every chance they get.

[cthulu2016]

14. self-kicking because this is a major phenomenon that won't lead the news

[bhikkhu]

16. Nobody that I know

...but there aren't many businesses in my town with more than 50 employees, and the ones that do are production stuff where healthcare expenses are already part of the cost of doing business.

[BadgerKid]

17. List of 42 announcements of cuts to worker hours

http://news.investors.com/070313-662427-16500-work-fewer-hours-from-obamacare-employer-mandate.htm?p=full