Thirty hour work week rule to impact fast-food restaurants more than any other businesses

The Affordable Care Act, more commonly called Obamacare, mandate all businesses with more than 50 employees averaging at least 30 hours or more a week to offer health benefits. Under the definition of the Affordable Care Act, any employee that averages 30-hours a week will qualify as a full-time worker. Under this definition, more than 21 percent of fast-food restaurant employees nationwide will qualify for employer provided health care insurance. The national average for all industries that meet the criteria is approximately nine percent. Many estimate that the mandate will cost an employer an additional $4,000 per employee to provide coverage under the law.

Yielding to the pressure from small businesses, fast-food restaurants and other businesses, the Administration is delaying the implementation of this mandate until 2015 giving an extra year to comply. Rule appears to affect the fast-food industry more than any other. This may result in employers cutting worker hours to stay under the limits of the law. Another option is to control the growth and stay below 50 employee bench mark. In any case cutting hours and curbing business growth are not good options to improve the still problematic U.S. economy.