TELL SODEXO: STOP USING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AS AN EXCUSE TO CUT BENEFITS E-ACTION

https://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/tell-sodexo-stop-using-the-affordable-care-act-as-an-excuse-to-cut-benefits

he Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare” was created to increase the availability of benefits to workers nationwide. Do not to use the Affordable Care Act as an excuse to cut benefits for your workers.
Why is this important?

My name is Liz Helton. For eight years, I have worked for Sodexo at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, proudly serving food to students on campus. My husband is a cancer survivor with an inoperable tumor in his chest. Having health care means everything to us.

When college is in session, I am scheduled to work 37 hours per week. Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to provide benefits to employees who work at least 30 hours a week, I should be covered. But, I’m not.

My employer, Sodexo, a multi-billion dollar international food service company, which services dozens of college campuses across the country, has announced it will eliminate existing health care coverage and benefits for thousands of workers. And, they are blaming the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.” The law requires employers like Sodexo to provide health insurance to employees who work 30 hours per week.

Using a loophole in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Sodexo is cutting benefits to workers at college campuses around the country. Those workers haven’t had their hours cut. Instead, Sodexo has used a loophole in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to designate those workers as “part-time”. School year workers have to average more than 30 hours a week on a 52-week calendar in order to qualify for benefits like healthcare and sick days - even though we don’t work year-round.

Since Sodexo cut my health insurance, I found out that I was not eligible for Indiana Medicaid or subsidies through the exchanges. Today, my husband and I have no coverage. I am just one of thousands of Sodexo workers nationwide who have been reclassified as "part-time." Nothing changed for us. We still work the same amount of hours. Now, we don't have benefits.

This huge corporation, which has 125,000 employees in the United States - and had revenues last year of over $25 billion, is hiding behind the Affordable Care Act to hurt workers like me. To be clear, the law doesn't require Sodexo to make me “part-time,” but nothing in the law prevents Sodexo from doing so. One expert told the Boston Globe, “There’s nothing in the law that requires Sodexo do this....They are choosing to do this.” This sets a dangerous precedent for workers. And, as a result, workers like me have lost health insurance and other benefits at work.

The clear intent of the Affordable Care Act is to increase health care coverage for millions nationwide. We all fought hard for that. Now we need your help to close the Sodexo loophole and stop the company from cutting benefits.

Sign my petition and help send Sodexo a message that you are with us in our fight. (Sign at link)

References
Boston Globe: Sodexo drops health care benefits for some, blaming Obamacare
Category: healthcare labor corporate
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