Discount retailer Target made headlines last week when it announced it would cut health care coverage for its part-time workers in response to changes stemming from the president’s health care law.
The Minneapolis-based company’s move followed that of others, including Home Depot and Trader Joes which have scrapped part-time employee coverage recently to save on health care costs. The companies claim that this benefits workers, who, with employee-based health insurance, would otherwise not be eligible for coverage and subsidies through the exchange.
Target is going to give its part-timers a $500 stipend to put toward the purchase of health insurance on the exchanges.
Related: More Companies Dump Employee Insurance for Obamacare
Before this year, many retailers and restaurants offered their part-time workers so-called “mini-med,” which provided extremely narrow benefits and coverage. This month, however, employers were banned from putting limits on annual coverage amounts. This meant better coverage for workers, but higher costs for companies.
Due to a sluggish economy and demographic changes, the number of part-time workers in the U.S. has been steadily increasing. The share of employees working part time rose from about 17 percent in 2007 to nearly 20 percent in 2009, where it has remained through the first half of last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Even before the recent changes, the vast majority of companies did not offer health insurance to part-time employees. Last year, less than half of large employers (those with more than 200 employees) who offered health benefits provided them to part-time workers, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. At small firms, the percentage is 25 percent.
Here are 10 national employers that are still providing health benefits to part-time workers, along with their ratings from Glassdoor, a jobs and career website that shares company reviews on a 5-star scale:
1. Whole Foods
Glassdoor stars: 3.6
The percentage of part-time employees at Whole Foods is 20 percent. Any “team member” who works more than 20 hours per week at this Austin-based organic grocery chain has access to a suite of benefits including medical care, a store discount, dental care, and a vision plan.
2. SAS
Glassdoor stars: 3.8
The Cary, North Carolina-based software developer offers comprehensive health, dental and medical benefits to its part-time employees. The company’s CEO also famously abstained from layoffs during the depths of the recession, instead asking employees to cut back on costs.
3. Costco
Glassdoor stars: 3.8
Part-time workers at the Seattle-based warehouse club receive free health insurance as long as they average 23 hours per week and have been with the company for at least six months. Employees at Costco enjoy frequent breaks and get paid time-and-a-half for working on Sundays.
4. Container Store
Glassdoor stars: 3.2
The Texas-based Container Store offers all part-time employees medical, dental and vision plans, as well as a 40-percent merchandise discount, paid vacations, and a 401(k) plan. But the company is picky about who it hires: Even entry-level job applicants go through up eight rounds of group interviews.
5. Starbucks
Glassdoor stars: 3.7
Baristas at Starbucks who brew more than 20 hours a week with the company have access to a compensation package the Seattle-based coffee chain calls “Your Special Blend.” It includes medical, dental and vision coverage, a 401(k) program – with company match – and a stock equity reward program.
6. UPS
Glassdoor stars: 3.3
The Brown courier got some flack earlier this year when it announced it would no longer provide health insurance to spouses of current employees who could get it elsewhere. But the Atlanta-based company still provides full-time benefits, including health coverage, to all part-time workers.
7. Publix
Glassdoor stars: 3.7
Part-timers at this Florida-based supermarket chain not only get medical, dental and health coverage, they also receive an employee stock ownership plan, annual bonuses, and a 401(k) retirement plan, with company match.
8. REI
Glassdoor stars: 3.7
Part-time employees who average at least 20 hours per week at this Washington-based outdoor outfitter have access to health, life, and disability insurance plans. Part-timers are also enrolled in the annual incentive plan, plus get a 50-percent discount on REI gear and apparel.
9. AAA
Glassdoor stars: 2.8
The auto club federation provides part-time employees with medical benefits once they’ve logged six months of service. In addition to medical coverage, workers get a health savings account and a 401(k) with matching contributions.
10. Capital One
Glassdoor stars: 3.4
What’s in the benefits package from this McLean, Virginia-based bank? For part-timers with at least 20 hours a week and six months of service, it’s medical, dental and vision coverage. They also get a 401(k)savings plan with employer matching, starting from their very first day at work.
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