C-store Industry Urging Congress to Redefine Full-Time Status

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The definition of a full-time employee, at least under Obamacare, could change under a bill currently before the U.S. House of Representatives.

H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers (SAW) Act, seeks to redefine a full-time worker under Obamacare as an employee who works 40 hours a week or more and not 30 hours a week, which is currently the standard. Representatives are set to vote on the bill next week.

Leading up to the vote, NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, is urging retailers to ask their representative to vote in favor of the measure. According to the association, more than 475 convenience store industry stakeholders have sent more than 580 letters to 248 U.S. representatives.

"This change would make it significantly easier to provide flexible schedules and better manage your workforce," NACS stated.

According to NACS, aligning the health-care law's definition of full-time employee status with current levels would help avoid any unnecessary disruptions to employees' wages and hours, and would provide significant relief to employers.

In addition, NACS said, increasing Obamacare's 30-hour per week definition to full-time status would:

• Make it easier for employers to provide more hours to all employees, thereby increasing their take-home pay.
• Help employers offer more generous health care coverage to full-time employees without making premiums prohibitive.
• Help ensure that lower-income employees have access to more affordable health-care coverage options.

U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the SAW Act in June 2013 with 113 original co-sponsors.