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Originally Posted by GT40XStang9  Lisa, I don't think there are any dollar amounts to these mandates yet. So as far as your employer making these claims, it could just be a scare tactic. Why? Not sure. |
Well, as I stated, we've tried implementing a group policy at my office before. The issue was that the employees who were not attorneys with the higher salaries (paralegals, receptionist, clerks) did not want to pay what their share would have been. In my case, I already have better coverage under Durden's benefits. Sadly, of the support personnel in the office, I think I'm the only one who has coverage other than a couple who have TLC (Medicaid). One of those is a single parent with two kids, and the other is a grandmother with custody of her grandchild and a disabled husband who requires dialysis as he's rejecting a donor kidney. Some really could not afford it, even with the company paying a portion.
We are not a high profile law firm. We're not the biggest names in town, and we don't charge the highest retainers. Our office is not a quick check revolving door and we reject frivolous suits and nuisance value claims. We take cases that require work and we pride ourselves on securing the best possible outcome for our clients. As such, we don't make the kind of money the bigger, high case turnover firms do.
Often money gets tight. The senior partner has on occasion written a check to the firm out of his own personal checking account so he could give us Christmas bonuses or meet payroll. Knowing what I know about my bosses, I don't believe it's bullcrap or a scare tactic. There's no reason for that. I am the senior paralegal there, and I am like family to the firm's partners, particularly the senior partner. Durden was his karate instructor many years back, and there is a long established personal relationship built on respect and trust. The senior partner was my friend prior to my employment, and the job was offered to me with no solicitation on my part. We are friends, there is no deception or manipulation. The company simply will not be able to continue to operate in the black if they are required to provide health insurance coverage under duress and with the threat of fines/penalties.
From my perspective, this is an 'in your face', real life application of Obama's plan which if implemented is likely to cost me my job. Honestly, if I lose my job, I'll still eat and have shelter. I'm not sure I can say the same for everybody who works at my office. Does it worry me? Hell yeah.