my first

ronbre · #1 01/04/13, 05:22 PM

well I just had my first conversation with a person who had been working an average of 40 hours a week, that this week was downsized to a 29.5 hour job so that his employer wouldn't have to pay for his health insurance.

He had NO IDEA that this was happening as he had not paid any attention to the news reports or kept up on current events.

He said to me, I don't know HOW I'm going to pay my bills.

He makes minimum wage which now is GROSS of under $240 a week and I didn't have the heart to tell him that his taxes will be going up on his first paycheck this year also..poor guy.

Helena · #2 01/04/13, 07:38 PM

Supposedly things are suppose to get better this year..

I also have a bridge to sell you too !!!

But, yes it is very sad. Taxes will go up and the working man will pay the bills for those that won't work..Don't know where it will end...or how much will all of us take before it ....changes or we change things..

PrettyPaisley · #3 01/04/13, 07:45 PM

And that is what happens when the masses don't "keep up with things".

Bob Huntress · #4 01/04/13, 08:13 PM

I feel for those in low pay jobs that are getting harmed by Obamacare, until I see signs that they voted for him and then I think to myself how poetic.

AngieM2 · #5 01/04/13, 08:18 PM

the only thing I can think of is to either make a job for himself (yard care, handy man, etc) or find a 2nd less than 30 hour a week job if possible.

AngieM2 · #6 01/04/13, 08:21 PM

Just had an idea for him, or anyone else.
If this happens - see if there is a friend that this happens to in a similar job with a different company.

Each of the present to their respective business that they each work for both companies, and divide the hours as necessary to stay below the 29.5 hours for each company. It might work, and worth at least a try.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 01/04/13, 09:01 PM

I heard a talk news guy on the radio today say that he's not going to do business with companies or business people that supported Obama. Interesting concept.

cathleenc · #8 01/04/13, 09:13 PM

I think to blame Obama or Obamacare for this sort of stuff is ridiculous.

Obama and Obamacare are steps in the right direction.

Bob Huntress · #9 01/04/13, 09:29 PM

"Obama and Obamacare are steps in the right direction."

If your goal is a complete dictatorship, where the government decides what medical care one recieves and who lives or dies, a world where no one is able to acheive in life because the government will rob him of all profits or where we are only free to worship what the government allows, then I could see how Obama & Obamacare would be a step in the right direction, yet if we want a prosperous economy where each American is free to earn a good living and enjoy the rewards of their labor, and where people are not constrained to forsake their sincerely held convictions, Obama & Obamacare are steps in the opposite direction.

seedspreader · #10 01/04/13, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathleenc

I think to blame Obama or Obamacare for this sort of stuff is ridiculous.

Obama and Obamacare are steps in the right direction.

Technically they are steps in the LEFT direction.

fellini123 · #11 01/04/13, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathleenc

I think to blame Obama or Obamacare for this sort of stuff is ridiculous.

Obama and Obamacare are steps in the right direction.

Ummmm.....nope! Dont think so.
Alice in Virginia

irregardless · #12 01/04/13, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathleenc

Obama and Obamacare are steps in the right direction.

This made my birthday.

Awnry Abe · #13 01/04/13, 10:50 PM

So just like that Kevin Bacon game, I like to see how many posts before a topic like this settles into a nice predictable state...

CaliannG · #14 01/05/13, 12:11 AM

Ummm, this is not new.

In the 80's, when I was a kid working a minimum wage job at whatever burger place would have me, they wouldn't let my hours go above 32, because I would then be "full time" and they were required, by law, to at least offer me group insurance.

In the late 90's and 2000's, my kids were working whatever minimum wage job would have them, and complained that their hours were kept under 32, because over that, by law, companies are required to offer group health insurance.

Hubby gets laid off, and flips between unemployment, and working whatever job he can find. Lands a position at Home Depot. They keep him under 32 hours a week, because.......??

Ya'll are reading propaganda again, and thinking it is a new thing and you can pin something else on 'the OTHER party'. Stop it.

It has been Federal Law for as long as I have been working (30 years now) that weekly hours over 32 is full time employment, and full time employees of companies that employ over X number (200, 500, don't remember) are required, by law, to be offered group health insurance.

Not that any of ya'll will listen to this.

Trixie · #15 01/05/13, 01:10 AM

Yes, when I worked in a fabric store, I told them I wanted full time. I was surprised when I saw my schedule and it was only 32 hours. They said that is considered full time now.

That was 20 years ago.

That is not in defense of the healthcare bill. I think it is an abomination.

I also think it is very foolish of us to think the 'other side' didn't have as much to do with it as this President and congress did.

Large corporate hospitals have been buying up little hospitals all over Texas, getting the locals to help finance new hospitals, or redo hospitals. They have set up clinics, and the doctors most all work for the hospital now.

In this little town, there are only 2 private practice doctors now, of course, they have to use the hospitals, so I think it is only a matter of time.

My husband and son's doctor was once a most sensible doctor. He didn't give medication if there was another way, he didn't charge an arm and a leg. When the corporate hospital took over, everything changed. The hospital does his billing now, an the prices have gone up. He has hired a PA who loves to prescribe medication - the more expensive the better.

I think this was all being put in place in anticipation of the passage of this bill - it's been in the works for a very long time.

CaliannG · #16 01/05/13, 01:44 AM

Not saying anything for or against the ACA. I think it has been talked to death already, and if 33 attempts to repeal it have gotten no-where, I am fairly certain that it is here to stay.

But, I am seeing a lot of things about it that are patently false lately, and it bugs the heck out of me that so many are putting me in the position of seemingly defending the ACA when in all actuality, all I am pointing out is that their, particular little picture or bit of propaganda happens to be untrue.

Companies have always attempted to keep minimum wage workers, especially in retail, under 32 hours per week to avoid offering health insurance. That hasn't changed. Trying to blame it on Obamacare now when it has been going on for decades is, at best, misinformed and, at worse, deliberately misleading.

The Medical Incise Tax is ONLY on certain medical items, it is NOT across the board. It is not even supposed to apply to retail purchases at all. So the latest, viral image of a Canela's receipt showing it (Cabela's in a gun store) on the purchase of a holster and firearm is in error. Obamacare is not taxing your guns.

There are plenty of TRUTHFUL things wrong with many pieces of our legislation....why do people have to resort to UNtruthful things to complain about it?

I wish folks would stop it, because I don't like seeming to defend something when my only difficulty with the person's opinion is that they are spreading a lie in the wish to support it.

tinknal · #17 01/05/13, 11:03 AM

Maybe to clarify this discussion we need to find the Federal rules before and after O-care. Anyone know where to look?

HDRider · #18 01/05/13, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

well I just had my first conversation with a person who had been working an average of 40 hours a week, that this week was downsized to a 29.5 hour job so that his employer wouldn't have to pay for his health insurance.

He had NO IDEA that this was happening as he had not paid any attention to the news reports or kept up on current events.

He said to me, I don't know HOW I'm going to pay my bills.

He makes minimum wage which now is GROSS of under $240 a week and I didn't have the heart to tell him that his taxes will be going up on his first paycheck this year also..poor guy.

Just curious who this poor fellow voted for?

And for those of you saying this is as it always was, you are missing the point. Now if this person's work situation is such, his employer must pay for ACA (Obama Care).

My guess is if the situation was improved and a full time job was available at higher pay he would take it. This should be the end game for all of us as we vote to elect those that make differences in our lives.

belladulcinea · #19 01/05/13, 02:46 PM

In the past the company had to offer it if they had it, there was no fine though for the employee if they refused it, that is one change!

There were a lot of companies who did not have insurance for their employees.
They also did not have to pay for what they offered.

In Oklahoma 24 hours of employment is considered "fulltime" and so you are qualified for insurance if it is offered. The difference is now there is a penalty for the companies if they do not. Oklahoma did this to encourage younger healthier people to sign up for insurance. Except that a large percentage of people in Oklahoma are....wait for it.....receiving Indian Health Care, also paid for by the taxpayers.

Yvonne's hubby · #20 01/05/13, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I heard a talk news guy on the radio today say that he's not going to do business with companies or business people that supported Obama. Interesting concept.

I doubt his life will change much.... coz I dont know of any companies or business people that supported Obama. His support came primarily from government workers and those who live off handouts.