Last week Trader Joe’s announced it would drop employees working under 30 hours a week from health insurance coverage, counting on the public health care exchange to pick up the cost of covering its workers. This low-road labor strategy will shift the cost of providing health
coverage to their workers to public institutions in the form of medical entitlement programs, the state health care exchange and public health programs. Essentially, tax-payers will pick up the tab. Trader Joe’s joins Home Depot in announcing they plan to exploit loopholes in the Affordable Care Act by cutting part-time worker coverage. The employer mandate under the Affordable Care Act was supposed to go into effect this year; however the Obama administration delayed its implementation to give employers more time to come into conformity with new IRS rules. Rather than seeking ways to meet the requirements many corporations, especially those in the low wage food service, grocery and retail sector, are instead finding new ways to get around the law. Here is the bad
news for the Puget Sound region. Trader Joess is not the only employer in the region cutting off access to health care for low wage workers. Recent negotiations between the region’s United Food and Commercial Workers union (Locals 21 and 367) and the large national grocery chains (Safeway, Kroger and Albertsons) have seen proposals by the grocery retail industry to cut employer
based health care for any workers who fall below the 30 hour full-time threshold. But cutting health coverage for employees below the federal 30 hours/week requirement is just one move in a series retail chains have designed to shift the cost of covering their workers onto taxpayers. Recent Puget Sound Sage research has found that: In addition, next week Puget Sound Sage will be releasing a policy briefing showing how grocery and retail
supercenters are forcing their workers to work without pay and off-the-clock.Local Grocery Retailers Threaten to Follow Suit
Oct 13, 2022
Former Crew Member in Danbury, CT, Connecticut
great health insurance, vision and dental
What Trader Joe's employees are saying
Oct 12, 2022
Former Retail Sales Associate in Scottsdale, AZ, Arizona
When I left, you had to work 32 hours average, every 6 months, to get the health benefits and pension plan. Fall below this at all, even if it's because you're out sick, and you lose it.
Oct 9, 2022
Former Crew Member in Miami, FL, Florida
Best is the 20% off literally anything in the store Worst is the waiting period to be insured/based on how many hours you put in every enrollment period. You will wait at least 4 months before you see any insurance. Be very mindful of this!
See all Trader Joe's Benefits
533 employees reported this benefit
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Employer Summary
Medical and vision coverage are available to eligible Trader Joe's employees.
Employee Comments
Showing 1–10 of 107
Sep 20, 2022
Great and affordable copay, typically starts after 3 months
Aug 10, 2022
Current Crew Member in nullnull
It covers so many different things
Jul 19, 2022
Great health plan at a good price
Jul 18, 2022
Former Sales Associate in nullnull
you have to work at least 35 hours per week
May 24, 2022
Current Crew Member in Phila, PA, Pennsylvania
great coverage, but you can loose it easily
Mar 3, 2022
An insurance rep on the phone once told me that TJ's insurance was better than her insurance *through* the same insurance company.
Jan 26, 2022
Current Cashier and Crew Member in Denver, CO, Colorado
Good overall but declines yearly
Jan 1, 2022
Current Crew Member in Nashville, TN, Tennessee
Good if you meet the hours and actually get health insurance
Dec 21, 2021
Prices have increased but overall it's pretty good and lots of coverage
Dec 13, 2021
Current Assistant Manager in Foxborough, MA, Massachusetts
Very affordable and really good coverage.
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Viewing 1 - 10 of 107 Reviews