I recently took a job at a local business. Nothing too strenuous- just some cashiering to make some money for dates, lunch with friends, and of course, for some pocket money in college. The interview was very typical; I talked about who I was, and really gave my new boss a sense of my hardworking attitude. She hired me on the spot, and we began to chat scheduling. She took out her calendar, looked up at me, and casually said, “now with that new Obama thing, we can’t have you working more than 24 hours a week, otherwise we’ve gotta offer insurance. Corporate doesn’t want us to do that.”
I of course knew what that “Obama thing” was that she referred to. Part of the Affordable Care Act mandates that employers have to provide health insurance for employees working more than 30 hours a week or the companies will face fines. Unfortunately, this had led to backlash from many across the nation. Papa Johns, Applebees, and Denny’s, along with many other big and small business have said that Obamacare will force them to make cuts and raise prices. Darden Restaurants, the parent company to Olive Garden and Red Lobster, in October began using more part-time, and cutting the number of full-time employees.
The problem with this is restaurants, grocery, and retail stores are often the only places teenagers can get jobs. They often don’t require more certification than your driver’s license and social security number, and have flexible hours for accommodating to school and extra-curricular activities. Most teenagers take part-time jobs, working under 35 hours per week, on average. Most of these jobs will make at or just above minimum wage. In Illinois, that means $8.25 (but the nationwide low is $7.25). So, someone working my hours pulls in, before taxes, $198 per week. Before the ACA mandate, the $8.25 at 35 hours a week would earn a kid $288.75. Those were the good ole days. But, all together, $198 isn’t too bad for me, considering I still live with my parents and have no real major expenditures. I don’t have to save money for tuition next year, and my car’s all paid for. My parents even spare me some money every now and again to go out for lunch. Overall, I’m very fortunate. However, some aren’t so lucky.
The rest from Duncan Millar at Turning Points USA
