Obamacare Killing Off More Jobs

[red states rule]

Yet another examle of Obamacare killing off economic growth and making the lives of the middle class more miserable

Mitt and the Republicans need to remind voters they will repeal Obamacare if elected




In an experiment apparently aimed at keeping down the cost of health-care reform, Orlando (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/PLGEO100100410140000.topic)-basedDarden Restaurants (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/PLENT000161.topic) has stopped offering full-time schedules to many hourly workers in at least a few Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses.

Darden said the test is taking place in "a select number" of restaurants in four markets, including Central Florida, but would not give details. The company said there has been no decision made about expanding it.

In an emailed statement, Darden said staffing changes are "just one of the many things we are evaluating to help us address the cost implications health care reform (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/EVHST0000197.topic) will have on our business. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the health care regulations and we simply do not have enough information to make any decisions at this time.

Analysts say many other companies, including the White Castle hamburger chain, are considering employing fewer full-timers because of key features of the Affordable Care Act (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/EVGAP00039.topic) scheduled togo into effect in 2014. Under that law,large companies must provide affordable health insurance to employees working an average of at least 30 hours per week.

If they do not, the companies can face fines of up to $3,000 for each employee who then turns to an exchange — an online marketplacehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png (http://www.debatepolicy.com/#) — for insurance.

"I think a lot of those employers, especially restaurants, are just going to ensure nobody gets scheduled more than 30 hours a week," said Matthew Snook, partner with human-resources consulting company Mercer.

Darden said its goal at the test restaurants is to keep employees at 28 hours a week.
Analysts said limiting hours could pose new challenges, including higher turnover and less-qualified workers.

"It's a real problem for restaurants," said Howard Penney, a restaurant analyst and managing director for Hedgeye Risk Management.

Darden, the world's largest casual-dining company and one of the nation's 30 largest employers, said it offers health insurance to all its approximately 185,000 employees. Many are offered a limited-benefit plan. That type of coverage is being phased out under health-care changes, which will ban annual limits for most plans.

About 25 percent of Darden workers are full time, meaning they work more than 30 hours a week. Though employees say Darden already offers traditional health insurance to full-timers, Janney Capital Markets analyst Mark Kalinowski said the cost of providing that could become higher for Darden under the Affordable Care Act. Because that law requires everyone to have health insurance, more workers will likely choose its coverage, Kalinowski said.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-10-07/business/os-darden-part-time-workers-20121007_1_darden-restaurants-health-insurance-olive-gardens

[KarlMarx]

I hope that Obamacare helps to kill off at least one more job, Generalissimo El Incompetente's

[red states rule]

and we have this from a CEO who sent out an email to all his employees leting them know if Obama is re-elected he will fire workers to reduce the higher costs of doing business





David Siegel, the founder and chief executive of Westgate Resorts, a national timeshare company, became famous this year when a documentary movie, The Queen of Versailles (http://www.magpictures.com/thequeenofversailles/), chronicled his effort to build the biggest home in America, a 90,000-square-foot $100 million mansion. Now he’s got a new claim to fame: sending a letter to his employees telling them they’d better think twice about who they vote for, because if Obama is reelected they may lose their jobs. The letter, which Gawker got hold of and prints in full here (http://gawker.com/5950189/the-ceo-who-built-himself-americas-largest-house-just-threatened-to-fire-his-employees-if-obamas-elected), begins:

As most of you know our company, Westgate Resorts, has continued to succeed in spite of a very dismal economy. There is no question that the economy has changed for the worse and we have not seen any improvement over the past four years. In spite of all of the challenges we have faced, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration. Of course, as your employer, I can’t tell you whom to vote for, and I certainly wouldn’t interfere with your right to vote for whomever you choose. In fact, I encourage you to vote for whomever you think will serve your interests the best.

However, let me share a few facts that might help you decide what is in your best interest. . . .


He goes on to say that the Obama administration and the press “want you to believe that we live in a class system where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. They label us the ’1%.’ . . . I’m sure many people think that I live a privileged life. However, what you don’t see or hear is the true story behind any success that I have achieved.” He then tells the tale of his self-made success, and continues:

Just think about this – most of you arrive at work in the morning and leave that afternoon and the rest of your time is yours to do as you please. But not me- there is no “off” button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have that freedom. . . .
Now, the economy is falling apart and people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for. . . .
He concludes:

So where am I going with all this? It’s quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. . . .
You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities. If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, your boss,


http://www.forbes.com/sites/frederickallen/2012/10/09/ceo-says-hell-fire-employees-if-obamas-reelected/