On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal published my op-ed titled, Shunning ObamaCare. In the piece, I discuss the negative impact of the 30-hour work week under the ACA and the importance of returning the definition of full-time work to 40 hours a week.
Among the Affordable Care Act’s many economic and political disruptions, the law has unintentionally encouraged employers to convert full-time jobs into part-time jobs. ObamaCare mandates that employers offer health insurance to employees who work more than 30 hours a week, or pay a penalty up to $3,000 an employee. But employers have no such obligation for employees who work less than 30 hours a week, making part-time employment less costly. It’s a simple fact: Make something more expensive and people will use less of it; make something less expensive and they will use more of it. So naturally employee hours have been reduced, particularly in the retail segment, which has lowered wages and reduced consumer spending. This is a serious problem for workers and business.
Next week, I will elaborate further on the topic when I testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
To read the full WSJ article, click here.