Business group urges work week change on Affordable Care Act

Posted on January 8, 2015

The Affordable Care Act sets eligibility for full-time workers at a minimum of 30 hours per week. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The 40-hour work week is what we think of as "full-time employment" – except when it comes to the Affordable Care Act.
 
Making 30 hours the threshold between part- and full-time work has done nothing, says a small-business organization, but create a workforce of people who work 29 hours a week.
 
Kim Clarke Maisch, Illinois director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said her constituents are good at getting around whatever rules are thrown in front of them.
 
"As with most things, employers will adapt in order to provide their product or their service," Maisch said. "Unfortunately, what’s happened under the law, is employers have reduced hours worked … falling just short of what they need to comply with Obamacare. And that doesn’t help anybody."
 
Maisch said the NFIB is urging Congress to pass a bill restoring the “full-time” work week to 40 hours. A vote could come Thursday.

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