Here’s a more conversational and easy-to-understand version of the article:
Did you know that in 2021, almost all large companies (97.3% to be exact) offered health insurance to their employees? But when it comes to smaller firms with less than 50 employees, only about a third (31.9%) did the same. Why the big difference? Well, it’s mainly because small businesses aren’t obligated to provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Now, even among the big companies that do offer health insurance, part-time workers often get the short end of the stick. In fact, less than a quarter of part-time workers in civilian jobs have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
To make things worse, some companies have even cut back on benefits for part-time workers in recent years. Big names like Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Home Depot have all stopped offering health or retirement plans (or both) for part-time staff. They’ve set the bar for health coverage eligibility at 30 hours per week and retirement benefits at 40 hours per week. So, if you’re a part-timer who doesn’t clock in 30 hours a week, you’ll have to look to state or federal insurance exchanges for health, dental, and vision coverage.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some companies still offer health benefits and other perks, like dental coverage and 401(k) plans, to part-time workers. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest and most widespread companies that do this:
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Allegis Group: This Maryland-based staffing firm, formerly known as Aerotek, employs around 10,000 full-time employees and nearly 100,000 contractors and temp workers. If you’re a qualifying Allegis Group employee, you’re eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage paid for through paycheck contributions. They also offer a 401(k) plan with an employee match and an annual profit-sharing bonus for part-time workers.
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Costco: This Seattle-based big box retailer offers a comprehensive health insurance plan administered by Aetna to any employee who works more than 23 hours per week and logs 180 days of service. Part-timers also have access to a low-cost dental plan and basic vision coverage.
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Lowe’s Home Improvement: Unlike its main rival, Home Depot, Lowe’s extends health insurance benefits to all nonseasonal part-time employees. After 89 days of service, you’ll have access to a very good health plan as a part-time employee.
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Starbucks: Most Starbucks employees are part-time. The coffee company has a reputation for treating its workers well. Employees who work more than 20 hours per week or 240 hours per quarter are eligible to enroll in Starbucks’ benefits program.
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UPS: As part of the Teamsters union, hourly UPS workers who log at least 225 hours in any three-month eligibility determination period are eligible for the same TeamstersCare benefits normally extended to full-time Teamsters members.
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REI: REI still extends full-time benefits to all employees working at least 20 hours per week. You must average 20 hours per week over the course of a 12-month period.
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Staples: Staples provides health insurance coverage and a slew of other benefits to hourly and full-time employees, including store-based associates and corporate campus workers.
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U-Haul: Most part-timers at U-Haul are eligible for employee benefits. U-Haul offers a limited medical and dental plan that features a medical reimbursement plan.
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JPMorgan Chase: After 60 days of employment, those logging more than 20 hours per week at JPMorgan Chase are eligible for a generous benefits package.
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Chipotle Mexican Grill: Chipotle is also admirably transparent about its benefits package for part-timers, which the company refers to as crew members.
While some companies have scaled back benefits for part-time employees, it’s still possible to find bigger employers offering solid benefits packages to part-time staff. These benefits might not be as robust as those offered to full-time workers, and they may have restrictions or limits on coverage. But employer-sponsored group health insurance plans still tend to be more affordable than plans purchased on the private market, especially when companies help subsidize the cost.
