Under the rules of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka Obamacare, businesses large and small have certain requirements to meet under the provisions of the Employer Mandate of the law. Once the ACA was enacted and then later upheld by the Supreme Court, large portions of the bill went into effect. The requirement for obtaining proper health insurance that met the standard of “minimum sufficient coverage” was clearly defined. Most Americans are mandated to have some form of coverage either through a private individual or group plan, by way of government programs such as Medicaid or CHIP, or from an employer-sponsored healthcare plan.
Employer Mandate Provision
That’s where the Employer Mandate comes in, outlining the requirement that all companies must now abide in offering their employees sufficient healthcare coverage. For those companies with 50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, no fewer than 95% of the workforce must be offered employer-sponsored coverage. Larger companies with over 100 FTE employees must also meet that 95% standard in offering their workers health insurance.
The definition of “full-time equivalent” is that any employee working a minimum of 30 hours a week for one company or employer and beneficiaries of coverage must also include any dependents aged 26 or under of each employee. Those firms with 49 or fewer are exempt from the employer mandate.
Non-Compliance with Obamacare
Any company failing to comply with the laws will face potentially stiff fines in the form of a penalty per employee. That number can get pretty steep depending on the size of the firm and how many employees are not adequately covered by insurance.
Unfortunately, more companies are reacting to the new mandate by reducing the number of their FTE employees instead of incurring the costs for providing healthcare and/or facing high fines for penalties. This has forced many employees to work reduced hours and look for alternative employment opportunities in addition to the job where they once worked full-time hours. Those who still work full-time are able to enjoy benefits from employers who are willing to comply with the law.
Unfortunately, this still leaves millions of people who are only able to work part-time (and potentially excluded from employer-provided healthcare) for a number of reasons. Some take on two or three part-time jobs to meet their financial obligations while others are only able to work part-time due to other commitments such as schooling or family obligations. These individuals are faced with a dilemma of trying to find affordable health insurance as they are still required to find suitable coverage under the requirements of the Individual Mandate under the Affordable Care Act.
Part-timers often have trouble achieving that delicate balance between making an income and maintaining health insurance since most companies do not and will not offer coverage to part-time workers. They’re not mandated by law to do so and most don’t want to assume the financial burden.
However, there are some options available for part-time staff in the form of subsidies that are offered through Obamacare. This makes shouldering the cost of insurance with individual plans through private insurers easier to handle. Not all will qualify, unfortunately, as the income threshold for eligibility is $44,000 per year and that can disqualify many part-timers from receiving that help. In that case, they may be forced to turn to government-sponsored options.
It’s a conundrum that many Americans are facing every day. Luckily, they have other options available to them by working for companies that offer part-time employees the same benefits package that full-time workers receive annually. Most of the corporations are household names and they all offer gainful employment with attractive healthcare plans and other perks such as retirement options in the form of 401k accounts, store discounts, vacation and sick pay, college savings plans, and more.
1. Land’s End
The clothing and home furnishings retailer employs 5,000 workers across 300 stores nationwide as well as warehouse, customer service, and executive positions at the company’s headquarters in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The company is known as a seasonal retailer doing the bulk of its business between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As is the case with almost all retailers, this is the time when they do the majority of their hiring of part-time employees. This busy time of the year for the company means they need additional personnel in their warehouse and customer support departments to help meet demand. These part-time employees qualify for healthcare and 401(k) plans.
Health Coverage Benefits: All employees are provided with dental and vision coverage at the time they are hired. They also receive access to a full service medical clinic that is located at the company’s headquarters which is tasked with providing low-cost, basic preventive care to every member of the workforce.
The company does not offer subsidized insurance to its part-time employees, but those workers that come on for year-round and seasonal employment alike have the option to buy into group coverage. Seasonal employees who commit to work for Land’s End during the next holiday season upcoming are able to keep their benefits throughout the off-season months.
Additional Perks: All year-round, part-time employees have the option to contribute to the company’s 401(k) plan. Every employee working at the Land’s End headquarters may use the on-site fitness center and health food market with wholesale prices on produce, meat, and a variety of other groceries. Every employee is also given a corporate discount on Land’s End products. However, only full-time workers may participate in the company’s stock purchase plan, part-timers are prohibited.
2. Costco
The warehouse giant has been popular with bulk consumers since 1983, making it the second biggest retailer in the world behind Walmart. Considering the compensation and benefits packages the company extends to all its employees, Costco is also one of the more popular chains at which to find gainful part-time employment.
The retailer currently owns 650 warehouse locations with 185,000 employees earning a starting wage of $11.50 per hour and a company average $21 hourly wage. Part-time employees have minimum requirements in order to participate in the company’s healthcare coverage and retirement plans and 88% of the entire workforce is enrolled in one or both.
Health Coverage Benefits: Costco employees must work at least 24 hours each week and accrue 180 days of employment before they may qualify for the company’s Choice Plus health plan and a low-cost dental plan that includes preventative visits and common procedures. Under the plan, employees may choose their own doctors and health provider facilities for care while a separate prescription medicine plan requires a $5 copay for generics and a 5% to 15% copay on name brand medications. Vision coverage is offered as well as coverage for dependents at an additional cost. Every employee that participates will have their contributions deducted directly from each payroll check.
Additional Perks: The company offers all part-time workers access to the 401(k) plan and promises to match their contributions up to $500 on an annual basis. Employees may also participate in the company’s flexible spending account that allows workers to put their earnings, before taxes, towards daycare in order to save up to $2,000 annually. There are other perks as well, including disability, life insurance, long-term care insurance, and an option to buy into the company’s direct stock purchase plan. Costco also provides a comprehensive care network that extends mental health counseling services free of charge and gives referrals to legal help representatives and debt counselors.
3. Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods, the world’s biggest natural and organic supermarket chain, has 370 stores located across the United States and the United Kingdom, employing nearly 78,000 workers. Among that group, almost one-third are part-timers. The company is one of the best around when it comes to compensation and health benefits, where the average part-time employee can pull in $19 an hour depending upon the scope of his or her experience in the supermarket retail industry.
Health Coverage Benefits: Every part-time employee may qualify for comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage under the company’s health plan if that person puts in a minimum of 20 hours a week. However, the eligibility doesn’t kick in until that employee has logged 400 hours of employment.
This all sounds great, but there is a small catch. Coverage benefits aren’t guaranteed as they’re not included in any employee contract. Whole Foods provides them to employees on an optional basis and they could be discontinued at the company’s discretion.
Additional Perks: Once a part-time employee has accrued their 400 hours, they are provided with extra incentives from a 20% discount on purchases to life insurance coverage for a fee, taken from each payroll check. The company also offers stock options, sick leave, and paid vacation days. Every employee is automatically enrolled in Whole Foods’ 401(k) plan after they have worked for six months. Whole Foods matches employees’ contributions up to an unspecified annual limit and there is also a profit-sharing program that comes from any unused revenue in the annual labor budget for each department throughout the store.
4. Nike
You may be surprised to see Nike on this list for a number of reasons. From the high costs of their apparel to the unsavory working conditions in their alleged overseas sweatshops, but believe it or not, Nike offers one of the most attractive and generous benefits package for part-timers and full-time employees who are considered as FTE if they work just 30 hours a week. Their healthcare coverage plan also falls well within the prescribed standards under the mandates of Obamacare.
Health Coverage Benefits: Nike offers part-time employees who have been with the company for a minimum of one year a health insurance package that provides 80% coverage after an initial deductible amount of $1,000. The plan comes with preventative and basic medical services extending to routine doctor visits and prescriptions, which are both covered. There is no need to enroll in a separate prescription plan here. Dental and vision coverage are also part of the deal but both require out of pocket costs to the insured.
Additional Perks: Part-timers can enroll in Nike’s 401(k) plan, which the company will contribute towards in a dollar-for-dollar matching situation with a limit of 5% of your total income. They also offer part-time employees the ability to purchase stock at 15% off and provide disability, life, long-term care and death/dismemberment insurance as well as up to 30 hours of paid leave during the first two years of employment. Nike also has a profit-sharing program that goes into effect after the first year.
5. REI
Recreational Equipment Incorporated is the leading outdoor and sporting goods retailer in the United States. They’re also one of the more popular companies to work for because they pay so well at a starting salary of $10 an hour, staying competitive with a flat pay scale where the CEO makes a salary that is commensurate with the rest of the workforce. For part-timers, the same benefits that go to full-time workers is available to you as well.
Healthcare Coverage Benefits: Any part-time employee who works a minimum of 20 hours a week is eligible for company-sponsored coverage through the PaTH plan. REI covers 60% of employee premiums but they do not cover dependents, those costs are the responsibility of the employee. They’re also on the hook for dental and vision benefits. Other employees who work 20-40 hours a week and even get overtime for working longer may access the FLEX plan where 85% of costs are covered for medical and dental.
Additional Perks: Part-timers can also receive life insurance and 401(k) plans where the company matches the contributions from your paycheck dollar-for-dollar at a limit of 5% of your total annual income. REI also has a profit-sharing program which can also be deposited into a 401(k) up to 10% of your employee income. Paid leave is available for those who qualify.
6. Staples
Part-time employees can get access to loads of benefits and employment perks, but they first must complete 500 hours of employment within a six-month span to become eligible to participate in everything Staples has to offer its workforce. Those advantages include a medical plan, however it has limitations and doesn’t meet the standards for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Employees will need to find some type of supplemental plan on their own in order to comply with the mandates for minimum sufficient coverage under Obamacare.
Health Coverage Benefits: The first thing to know up front is that Staples’ medical plan comes with limitations that make it out of compliance with the Affordable Care Act. Workers are urged by the company to apply for supplemental health insurance to fill in the gaps. Despite the limitations, vision and dental are also included and come with partial costs to cover routine preventative doctor visits.
New hires must enroll within the first 30 days or they have to wait for open enrollment. If you live in North Dakota, New Hampshire, Washington, or Massachusetts, then you can’t get these benefits as a part-time employee due to higher wages being paid to workers in these states.
Additional Perks: Though the company’s medical coverage isn’t quite up to par with the other corporations on this list, Staples keeps pace with the rest in other areas. These include disability insurance, stock purchasing programs, and a 401(k) plan with matching contributions from the company at a rate of 50 cents for every dollar you deposit. There is a matching contributions limit of 6% of your annual payroll income from Staples.
7. Starbucks
Earn a good hourly wage, qualify for strong healthcare benefits, get college tuition towards your bachelor’s degree, and a pound of free coffee every week. These are the perks of working for Starbucks.
You may have heard of them, the coffee and beverage company that has a store on virtually every corner of every major city in the United States. It’s true that Starbucks has 16,000 stores in just the U.S. and they employ nearly 200,000 employees, also known as “partners” all over the world. Working here gets you a lot of cool stuff including one of the most comprehensive healthcare plans in the industry.
Healthcare Coverage Benefits: As long as you work a minimum of 20 hours a week, you can get a great healthcare plan that offers 100% coverage for preventative care and other alternative services such as chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. Those aren’t covered entirely, but you do get dental and vision both of which cover the basics for the most part without any out of pocket expenses. Employees are expected to contribute 30% of the plan premiums.
Additional Perks: There are many perks with Starbucks including a stock purchase plan, a matching 401(k) plan, short-term disability and life insurance plans, even adoption assistance and paid vacation time after one year of employment for part-time workers. Even more encouraging is that Starbucks is willing to help cover some or all of your tuition costs if you pursue a bachelor’s degree with Arizona State University’s online courses. Not to mention a free pound of coffee, tea, or K-cups, every week.
8. U-Haul
You’ve no doubt heard of U-Haul and likely even rented a vehicle from them when you moved in the past. They’re only the largest rental truck and van company out there with over 20,000 employees. If you work there part-time you can start at $8.50 an hour. The longer you remain there, the more you can make, up to $13 an hour for employees who are not on salary. Full-time workers get more access to benefits but part-timers can participate in certain company plans for healthcare and retirement as well.
Healthcare Coverage Benefits: Like Staples, U-Haul’s coverage is limited and does not meet the standards under the Affordable Care Act. It does cover annual office visits and provides partial coverage on costly medical procedures. The prescription copays are low as well, but you will need to seek out a supplemental insurance plan to make up the difference. You only need to work there 20 hours a week or more to qualify for coverage.
Additional Perks: If you’re working 20 hours a week, then you can participate in the company’s stock purchasing and 401(k) retirement plans. Equipment rental discounts and an invite for membership with U-Haul’s exclusive credit union are also available to part-timers.
9. Lowe’s Home Improvement
Lowe’s has a range of advantages and benefits for part-timers including a thorough health package, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and stock purchasing options. The good news is that, unlike other companies on our list, there is no minimum hours worked or accrued to qualify. Part-time employees will need to take on a majority of the costs of health coverage for at least the first year of employment.
Health Coverage Benefits: The healthcare plan available to part-time workers kicks in on day one of their employment and it covers basic medical, dental, and vision. Lowe’s doesn’t require you to work a certain number of minimum hours per week, either. You’re already eligible, but you only have 31 days to apply as part of a qualifying event. If you miss that deadline, then you will need to wait for the next open enrollment period. You will be expected to pay 100% of the cost of the plan, but that’s over the course of your first full year. After that, Lowe’s covers 60% of employee costs and 57.5% of the costs to cover any qualifying dependents.
Additional Perks: Part-time employees have access to all of these aforementioned coverage options as well life insurance and short-term disability plans. Lowe’s also offers the ability to purchase stock after working for the company over a one year span and they also extend participation in the 401(k) retirement plan after the initial year, matching your contributions dollar-for-dollar at a limit of 3% of your gross income. Once you’ve worked there for just six months, you get 40 hours of paid vacation leave.
10. Allegis Group
This recruitment and staffing firm based in Hanover, Maryland has a workforce of over 10,000 full-time employees and nearly ten times that many temporary hires and contractors. They are all employees of Allegis by way of multiple subsidiary firms including Aerotek, TEKsystems, MarketSource, Allegis Global Solutions, Stephen James Associates, Major, Lindsey & Africa, and GettingHired. Employees are eligible for benefits as long as they work a minimum of 20 hours a week.
Health Coverage Benefits: Any eligible Allegis Group employee that meets the minimum criteria qualifies for all forms of coverage, including medical, vision, and dental, funded by contributions made from each paycheck. Dependents are covered as well as per the current Obamacare mandate. All part-time employees have 30 days to apply for coverage as a new job meets the standard under the Affordable Care Act’s definition for special enrollment otherwise known as a “qualifying event”. If the 30 day window is missed, that individual must then wait for the next open enrollment period in which all Americans can apply for new coverage or make changes to their existing plan.
Additional Perks: The company offers a pretty good 401(k) plan matching employee contributions in full up to the first $500 and then a 50% match on the next $500 after that equaling $750 in annual employer contributions to your retirement account. The company also offers a profit-sharing bonus for part-time workers at each of the company’s subsidiary firms, with the exception of contractors. That bonus may be collected in the form of a 401(k) contribution in addition to the yearly $750 deposit of matching funds.
Allegis also offers life and disability insurance, a 529 college savings account, paid sick leave and paid vacation. All new hires are eligible to receive these perks and paid time off is determined by hours worked for the company.
Our Final Thoughts
This is only a partial list of the employers who offer high paying part time jobs that come with the same benefits, incentives, and advantages that many full-time employees have been able to enjoy. Although a few of the companies offer healthcare plans that don’t quite meet the level of coverage required by law under Obamacare, supplemental plans can be affordable and easier to pay for than taking on the cost of an individual plan all by yourself. Look into applying with these employers and continue your search for other jobs that might have similar packages and plans for insurance, retirement, and more.