"Whole Foods is cutting medical benefits for hundreds of part-time workers", 12 September 2019

Whole Foods is cutting medical benefits for hundreds of part-time workers, the company confirmed to Business Inside...The changes will take effect on January 1 and affect just under 2% of Whole Foods' total workforce...Whole Foods has about 95,000 employees, so it means about 1,900 people will lose benefits.

The benefits that the company is cutting are offered to part-time employees who work at least 20 hours a week. The changes will not affect full-time employees.

Whole Foods said it was making the change "to better meet the needs of our business and create a more equitable and efficient scheduling model."

"The small percentage of part-time team members...will no longer be eligible to buy into medical coverage through the company...We are providing team members with resources to find alternative healthcare coverage options, or to explore full-time, healthcare-eligible positions starting at 30 hours per week..."...

...A 15-year employee of Whole Foods said she...would have to increase her hours to become eligible for full-time benefits and pay for childcare, or shop for a new and potentially more expensive health-insurance plan on the private marketplace...