Health insurance benefits for part-time employees have been a topic of discussion and concern for many years. While larger firms are more likely to offer health insurance benefits to their employees, the situation is quite different for smaller businesses. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 31.9% of firms with fewer than 50 full-time employees offer health insurance benefits to their employees. This stark contrast is largely due to the fact that small businesses are not required to provide employer-sponsored health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Even among larger employers that do offer health insurance benefits to full-time employees, part-time employees often do not receive the same level of coverage. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that fewer than one in four part-time workers in civilian occupations have access to employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by part-time employees when it comes to accessing essential health benefits.
Some companies have even scaled back or eliminated benefits packages for part-time workers in recent years. Retail giants like Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Home Depot have discontinued health or retirement plans for part-time staff, raising the threshold for health coverage eligibility to 30 hours per week and retirement benefits eligibility to 40 hours per week. This trend has left many part-time workers without access to crucial benefits.
However, there are still companies that prioritize the well-being of their part-time employees by offering health insurance benefits and other perks. Let’s take a closer look at some of the largest and most geographically diverse companies that provide health insurance and other benefits to part-time workers:
1. Allegis Group: Formerly known as Aerotek, Allegis Group is a staffing firm that offers medical, dental, and vision coverage to all temp and contract employees who work at least 20 hours per week. They also provide a health savings account and a 401(k) plan with an employee match.
2. Costco: Costco offers comprehensive health insurance plans to employees who work more than 23 hours per week and have completed 180 days of service. They also provide dental coverage, vision coverage, and an in-house prescription plan with low copays.
3. Lowe’s Home Improvement: Lowe’s extends health insurance benefits to all nonseasonal part-time employees after 89 days of consecutive service. They offer a good health plan that covers preventive care and primary care visits, as well as life insurance and short-term disability plans.
4. Starbucks: Starbucks provides health coverage options to employees who work more than 20 hours per week or 240 hours per quarter. Their benefits package includes various medical plans, dental plans, vision plans, and other nonmedical benefits like adoption assistance and college savings plans.
5. UPS: UPS offers attractive benefits packages to part-time employees who log at least 225 hours in any three-month eligibility determination period. They provide basic health plans, life insurance, disability insurance, adoption assistance, and tuition assistance through the Earn and Learn Program.
6. REI: REI extends full-time benefits to employees working at least 20 hours per week. They offer health insurance plans, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with employer match, and generous discounts on REI products and services.
7. Staples: Staples provides health insurance coverage and a range of other benefits to hourly and full-time employees, including store-based associates and corporate campus workers. They offer a health plan with preventive care coverage, dental and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, and retail discounts.
8. U-Haul: U-Haul offers a limited medical and dental plan for part-time employees, with a medical reimbursement plan that covers specific medical services. They also provide a direct stock purchase plan, a 401(k) plan, optional insurance coverage, and discounts on U-Haul equipment.
9. JPMorgan Chase: Chase employees who work more than 20 hours per week can choose from two medical coverage options and have access to dental and vision coverage. They also offer flexible spending accounts, disability insurance, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer contributions.
10. Chipotle Mexican Grill: Chipotle crew members can choose from medical coverage options, dental and vision coverage, and a range of additional benefits including paid vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement, a 401(k) plan, and employee stock purchase plan.
In conclusion, while the landscape of health insurance benefits for part-time employees may vary across different companies, there are still employers who prioritize the well-being of their part-time staff by offering comprehensive benefits packages. These companies recognize the importance of providing access to essential health benefits and other perks to all employees, regardless of their work hours. By highlighting these companies and their commitment to supporting part-time workers, we can encourage more businesses to follow suit and provide valuable benefits to all employees.