Ayotte Renews Support for Bipartisan Bill to Restore 40 Hour Work Week
Press Release
U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today announced she is again backing bipartisan legislation to provide relief from the health care law to New Hampshire small businesses and employees by restoring the traditional 40-hour work week. Currently, the health care law defines a full-time employee as one who works at least 30 hours a week. Last Congress, Senator Ayotte cosponsored The Forty Hours is Full-Time Act, which was re-introduced in the Senate yesterday by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN).
"I have heard from employees in New Hampshire who have had their hours cut and employers who have been forced to delay hiring and reduce work hours as a result of the law's complicated and costly employer mandate," said Senator Ayotte. "This bipartisan legislation would ensure that we address the issue of employees seeing their hours reduced below 30 per week by restoring the 40 hour work week-the number of hours traditionally seen as the standard for full-time employment. Making this change will allow New Hampshire businesses greater ability to grow and thrive."
As a means to force mid-size and large businesses to offer ObamaCare-approved coverage to their "full-time" employees, the health care law effectively defines full-time employment as 30 hours per week. Although the administration had previously delayed and modified this part of the law multiple times, Senator Ayotte has continually heard feedback from Granite Staters that the mandate has resulted in the reduction of their work hours. According to a recent National Federation of Independent Business survey, the mandates in the health care law are causing more businesses to cut their employees' work hours, delay hiring, or institute pay freezes.
Additionally, last Congress, Senator Ayotte introduced legislation in the Senate to address the varied and complicated definitions of "seasonal employee" in the health care law, which New Hampshire ski owners have told her may cause them to shorten their season.
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