FMI Supports Practical Workweek Legislation

JANUARY 6, 2015, ARLINGTON, VA – FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin offered the following comments in support of bipartisan legislation introduced today aimed at amending the Affordable Care Act’s definition of full-time from 30 hours to 40 hours:
 
“As of January 1, employers were required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to track workers’ hours to minimize the potential for unintended tax penalties if part-time employees work more than 30 hours per week.
 
“The food retail industry is known to be a labor-intensive enterprise that offers employment opportunities for workers spanning a range of ages, educational levels and skill sets. We strongly support efforts in Congress to restore the definition of a full-time grocery employee to one whose workweek is comprised of a level of hours significantly above 30 hours per week in order to offer employers and their associates the flexibility needed to meet their mutual goals.
 
“We thank Reps. Todd Young (R-IN) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) for their renewed commitment, translated into legislation, supporting a workweek that approaches 40 hours."

About FMI

As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org