Even if you’re of the best health you’ve probably had some kind of conversation or read something about healthcare reform this year. If not, here’s some news for you!
Starting October 1st, 2013 the people of the United States will have the opportunity to apply for medical benefits facilitated by the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare as the media has coined it.
This is so significant to small business owners (which are the majority of businesses in the US) because a lot of them have been leaving their staff out when it comes to medical coverage.
All too often I hear business owners say “I don’t offer my employees benefits, but I’m all taken care of.” When did this divide happen?
It’s been gradual, but now according to the Kaiser Family Foundation about 56% of employees are covered by health plans offered by their employers. At the same time though, most of these plans come with a deductible of $1,000 or more, but these same workers statistically have less than $1,000 in savings (about 51%) and 60% of people say they live paycheck to paycheck!1
So what do we do for 44% with no coverage or the 40% living paycheck to paycheck? That is what the ideal of ObamaCare is. Yet, why do so many small business owners not care to educate their staff on what is going on?
69% of small business owners are either not prepared or don’t know that to do for the October 1st deadline set by the Department of Labor to simply educate their staff2.
So why is their family more important than their employee’s family?
Once their was a time when your employee was family.
Now I’m not asking every business owner to invite their employees over for brunch, but at least realize they are your most valuable asset.
Yes, you are the visionary, the drive, and the force, but they are the business.
It’s like a great composer is nothing without an orchestra. At least tell them where to get instruments……..
60% of employees look to their boss for information about benefits3. If you’re not going to offer any benefits then at least take this milestone as a chance to improve morale.
If you just show an employee “hey, I can’t pay for your benefits, but I’m going to try to help you find the best thing for you and your family” it will speak volumes to them. Heck, it may gain you an employee for life.
Do something different with this huge change. Don’t follow the herd. Mainly because the herd thinks that this whole thing only applies to companies with 50 employees or more.
WRONG!!!!!!
Read for yourself and be a real leader to your staff.
1.http://www.creditdonkey.com/increase-savings-2013.html
2.http://ifawebnews.com/2013/03/28/small-businesses-confused-about-aca-will-need-help-moving-into-2014/
3.https://sell.aflac.com/Training%20and%20Resources/Business%20Insights/HCR%20Page.aspx
What do you think about the trend of businesses canceling plans all together and giving employees money to buy on the health exchange?
ReplyDeleteHey Leah! Thanks for commenting. It is a definite growing trend and it was inevitable when the bill was passed. It's ok as long as it's handled properly. It does raise the employees' taxable income, but I don't think they realize this as of yet. Sometimes it's the only way employees can actually afford a policy as group policies don't take income into account.
DeleteHave you seen that happening a lot in your side of the world?