Sen. Lamar Alexander (R- Tenn) argued Thursday that Obamacare’s definition of a 30-hour work week as full-time was lowering work ethic in the United States.
“It is a strange definition — one that sounds more like France than the United States,” Alexander, the Health Committee Chairman, said during a hearing.
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The Senate is taking up a provision of the healthcare law known as the employer mandate that requires businesses with more than 50 full-time employees to provide health insurance for those workers. But Obamacare defines “full-time” as 30 hours per week.
Democrats have claimed that this means more people will receive coverage, but Republicans and studies have shown that many businesses have simply cut workers’ hours to keep them under the 30-hour threshold.
Alexander pointed to a study that says 2.6 million workers could have their hours cut, or even lose their jobs, under the changes.
“Many businesses can’t afford ObamaCare’s mandate and must reduce their number of full-time employees,” he said, as quoted by The Hill. The result of all this is that thousands of workers are getting a pay cut. Their work schedules are being reduced to 29 hours a week and below.”
The House recently passed a measure that restores the definition to 40 hours per week and waives the penalties for companies that do not offer health insurance to employees working fewer than 40 hours per week. The Senate is now considering comparable legislation.
Alexander said he hopes these changes will start to “repair the damage of Obamacare.”
