Colleges Cut Teachers' Hours to Evade Obamacare

'It goes against the spirit of the law'

Universities are supposedly bastions of Obama support, but they're nonetheless finagling to get around restrictions imposed by his landmark healthcare bill.

They're looking to avoid providing healthcare for educators who aren't tenured – the legions of adjunct professors on campuses across America. And they're doing it by slashing hours to below 30 a week, the cut-off point at which employers are required to provide medical benefits under Obamacare.

It's a development met with harsh criticism by many in the academy, writes Walter Russell Mead at The American Interest.

"I think it goes against the spirit of the [health-care] law," said one instructor at an Ohio college who's seeing his hours capped. "We're working for the public good, we are public employees at a public institution; we should be the first ones to uphold the law, to set the example."

It's one of the unfortunate "unintended consequences" of the landmark healthcare bill, says Mead, who takes college administrators to task for their "moral hypocrisy."

"Universities are citadels of blue model thinking and most faculty members are relentlessly liberal in their politics," he states. "But the reality is that these same universities are some of the nastiest and most exploitative employers in America."

Via The American Interest.

Do you blame Obamacare or campus administrators for this news?

[whataGOVwehave]

Just send the Jobs to China and get it over with

[drpeeper]

What happens when pinheaded liberals who sit in a faculty lounge all day- try to construct how an economy 'should' work. Pure idiocy if they didn't think this would happen.

[XLP]

Nothing is free, even if you were not the one paying for it.

[Russell797]

Nothing is free, and employers should not have to shoulder the financial burden. The system is unfair, to both employers and those who can not afford medical insurance on there own, which is most people. Single payer. like most every other country has is the answer. Everyone shares in the expense.

[XLP]

@Russell797 Ever lived in one of those countries? I have.

[Russell797]

@XLP The U.S. is ranked 37th in heath care by the World Health Organization. I live in the U.S. and access to heath care is prohibitively expensive for the majority of our citizens, unless someone else pays the bills. The individual simply can not afford quality health care and far too many go without. NOTHING is more important than one's health.

[XLP]

@Russell797 I don't know why the W.H.O. rates the US that way. But, I can tell you if you think health care will be cheaper with a statutory system you are very wrong. It gets expensive and complicated. It also is a pain when your entire parliament is engulfed in healthcare issues all of the time. I could give you detail after detail but I would just be wasting my time. I don’t expect you to believe me. Apparently most Americans feel like you do. Obama was re-elected. Thankfully Europe and Canada is moving away from this old way. So that will be the alternative as the US is now.
Maybe this will be a better approach. Think of this. What if you paid for all people’s health care. Would you try to influence the way they live in ways you think will help save costs? Also the government will have to make procedural decisions based on cost. What do you do when you get sued (you can’t sue the US government) because of a bad drug or procedure? What would you tell the number of people who get expensive procedures just to live a few months more? How do you think this works? This is the story of a socialized society with statutory healthcare.

[Russell797]

@XLP First of all, don't feel you are wasting your time with me, I will listen, but as a scientist the evidence must speak for itself. There are no perfect solutions to this issue, but we should seek to improve access to quality heath care. We have developed the highest grade medical technology on the planet, yet our own citizens in far too many cases can not afford access to it.

If what you say is true about about costs, why then does the U.S. consumer of health care pay an average of twice per capita the rate of the average of all other health care systems? When the bottom line is of paramount importance, the insurance companies act just as you claim the government would. The rules are made by those who pay the bills. If you are one of the relatively few extraordinary folks for whom cost is no object, then I can see how you may feel threatened, but for the vast majority who are dependent on insurance for their access to health care this is no trivial matter, and again, far to many are left out, and that is totally unacceptable.

[DARSB]

Charming commitment to staff well-being. Really warms the heart.

[PoliticalSpice]

An easy fix, deny federal dollars and grants to universities that do this. But obama won't do it cause despite what right wingnuts on here say he isn't far enough to the left to push hard on health care reform, if he were we would have single payer, or at least the govt option...

[Dan_Tien]

An "easy fix" that ends up hurting the college students, not the administrators who made the decision.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Dan_Tien As I was typing it I knew someone would say this. I really respect you, you make lots of intelligence post, but I strongly disagree. This is a perfect example of why I'm not a liberal. I'm not saying you are, I don't know that, but it is a liberal attitude that I disagree with. I care very much about education, but Sometimes one needs to make hard choices, in my opinion, acheiving more access to health care is worth it for three reasons. First, Given the loss of such funds most schools would choose to extend the medical coverage. Second, politically the cutting of programs etc. would create protest and outrage by students, teachers and public officials that would embarass school administrators into doing the right thing and possibly end the careers of idiots proposing this. Third, given the choice I think expanded health care is more important and think schools choosing not to do so would suffer loss of tuition revenue, as students choose schools with larger and better facilities and staff made possible because educators would prefer to teach at schools offering health coverage, and the increased flow of federal funds and grants would further improve the educational opportunities at those schools.

[sevenSecrets]

@PoliticalSpice I don't think that will work. I think the colleges will work around that as well. Maybe even make more money by privatizing. Unless state colleges get on board with their state.

[scotta]

The businesses can do what ever they want. There is no law that States you have to have full time employees. It this is such a great plan how come the house senate and president are example from it. Just asking.

[sgt_lemons]

A more logical fix would be for gov not take over medical care and force biz owners to pay high $$ to ensure employees are covered...obviously it is too much for job creators to bare to add on the cost of overhead. Funny how as soon as this law was passed that employers are now cutting hrs and jobs to compensate the unexpected added expence...this health care reform is killing jobs...now those folks will have zero income and still no health care

[DerivePI]

Economics teaches us that as the price goes up, the demand goes down. In order to keep the demand for their services up (aren't we all owed college educations?), they need to keep their costs down. Clearly, the right thing to do would be for all of the professors, especially those extremely rich tenured professors, to take a pay cut so that the less fortunate adjunct professors can get the healthcare they need. They owe them at least that much so that they can stay in their ivory towers.- TIC

[DomesticG]

Clearly! ;-)*rolls eyes*

[woodtick57]

Tying one's health care insurance to one's job has never been a good idea. makes as much sense as having your employer set up your home-owners insurance or your auto insurance...

[Raptor]

Deny federal dollars and grants to universities that do this, that is an excellent idea.

[Ashstop]

Just like I have to cut my expenses because of new taxes everything else will too( except WH of course)
It's so clear even a librail should understand this? If your expenses go up the profits go down, it's called loses, if the expence is a mandatory one then some other expenses must be trimed to maintain the same profit, duh?
Unlike our government, here in the real world we can't just print new money and keep showing the same profit. Basic Math 2+ 2= 4, if you have a new expence 2+2 -( 1 )= 3 ( not 4)
I know that's shocking to some

[HokieMBA00]

Can't blame the school for doing the fiscally responsible thing (unlike Obama).

[RobertJHarsh]

All businesses must do what it takes to keep costs and overhead down. Obamacare RAISES the cost of business. The "spirit" of the law? WTF is that? Exactly?

Suppose I have a business and Obamacare raises my costs of doing business? Am I not suppose to pass those along to customers? possibly cut staff? reduce hours for certain people? That's called RUNNING A BUSINESS. Perhaps Democrats should learn this concept.

[methinks]

@RobertJHarsh This is the beginning of the unintended consequences of passing a bill before anyone could read it!

It seems these liberal bastions of higher education are having buyer's remorse. They created this monster; I hope they're pleased with the results.

They are just following the lead of Olive Garden and Longhorne Steakhouse to get around it.

[RobertJHarsh]

@methinks Yep. They thought it was "free". Let's see how free they think it is in 3 or so years when all those instructors are 1099 contractors and must find their own health care.

In fact, 1099 is going to be the employment preference of the future.

[Roger]

@RobertJHarsh Where in this story do you see a business?

[RobertJHarsh]

@Roger What do you think colleges are? Oh yeah...you think all capitalism and making money is bad. Move along, son. Nothing to see here.

[Thegrif]

In business the bottom line---- is the bottom line.
More companies are doing the same, or cutting the employer contribution to your health care so you pay more, or cutting positions altogether.
Everyone will feel it, most of us will see it in our pay check stubs

[Roger]

Where in this story do you see a business?

[Thegrif]

@Roger higher education is a huge business

[Thegrif]

@Thegrif oh you were kidding right? The story is how colleges are cutting teachers hours to evade Obamacare.
Business.

[JustTheFacts]

Having been an adjunct (Information Technology) when I was in college .... I don't see a problem with this! Most adjuncts makes $30K - 40K per year ... buy your own health insurnace and stop riding the backs of the taxpayers! Hell, I'd like to see the professors lose their free healthcare benefits too ... these jerkoffs typically make 60K - 100K+ per year! If the university is looking to save money ... make cuts that are equal for everyone and stop playing favorites! Better yet, cut the deans salary ... these leeches typically rake in more than $250,000+ per year with free healthcare!

[kag]

You must live up north. I'm 53, have had my Ph.D. for 20 years, have taught college since getting my first degree, & now make less than $60,000. Our adjuncts get $700 per credit hour, & they're limited to 12 hours per semester. Our president doesn't even get $250,000, let alone the deans. But you know what? If my employer didn't kick in for my healthcare, I'd take care of it myself. I own my car & my house outright, & I have several retirement accounts. I've been frugal all my life, because I don't expect anyone else, including the government, to take care of me, & I most emphatically know I can't count on anyone but myself, the government least of all.

[Roger]

"Most adjuncts" make $30-40K? Arguments are easy when you can make up numbers to suit your purposes!

[JustTheFacts]

@Roger ... in my field of study at the time ... back in the late 90's ... that's what we got paid ... and that was entry level pay! The head of the civil engineering dept. made more than $110,000 ... sorry if these numbers offend you ... but they are 100% real!

[culinary]

Where I teach, they make way less than that. I have been teaching for 12 years and make way less than 60k.

[lochlomond]

Obamacare is just an added expense to the ultimate cost of a college education. While schools that are part of the state system are still less expensive than private schools there are a number of factors to consider. It is more cost effective for students to live at home, attend local public or private universities and work part time. They may also work full time and attend school part time. Many students are attending community colleges or career tech programs for cerificates or licensing. With so many college graduates working well below their level of qualification and burdened with decades of school loans to repay, potential students are looking for the least expensive yet marketable options. Additional operating costs will be passed on to students in some form and will result in transfers or a reduction in admission applications. The bottom line IS the bottom line.

[AceLuby]

Just another reason why single payer or a govt option would have been a better choice than this right wing plan that was shoved down everyone's throats. Yes, it's better than nothing, but not much.

[methinks]

WHOSE plan was shoved down everyone's throats? LMAO!

It was passed when the Dems had full control of Congress, unless you forgot that bit of pertinent i formation.

Nancy infamously said that we needed to pass the bill before we could read it!

[Knightkore]

Gee....Obamacare MIGHT raise your tuition....
Progressive liberals NEVER see how things might affect others....

[methinks]

Unintended consequences of liberal policymaking!

[joshinAZ]

HAHAHA well, they're getting what they voted for. So now, college tuition goes up ,and you still can't get a job when you get out.

[Mbjhug]

So, in order to maintain outrageous profits at the expense of students (debt), you must now start to downplay the education quality even more. Normally, if times are tough and expenses are high, I wouldn't mind it, especially if you are putting your profit back in to the company. But the thing is they aren't. How many schools have sub-par equipment and staff, yet still charge astounding tuition rates for the same education you can get a community college. But I guess we have to consider the well being of the scho- I mean corp- I mean person.

Also, I thought public schools were non-profit?

[Bobolinsky]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Ohio instructor who was quoted as saying, "I think it goes against the spirit of the law" is not an economics instructor.

They probably aren't familiar with the concept of "unintended consequences" either.

[mtkopf]

A football coach makes $ 5 million/yr and the university president makes 3 mil/yr but when it comes time to provide a healthcare plan to the majority of the workers the school cries broke. Cut both salaries by 1 million each and you now can afford very good employee insurance to 100 ppl, the ppl who toil in the trenches everyday do the pres and coach CAN receive their multi million dollar salaries.
But, why would America expect anything different? The schools are just taking a page from the business world; make sure the top few executives are well compensated and crap on those who actually keep the business/school run day to day.

[Knightkore]

You actually have a point here....priorities....

[mtkopf]

@Knightmare well thank you, I'm touched that you think so.

[Republican5001]

Welcome back from fantasyland...according to my little orphan Annie secret decoder ring and the GOP handbook, this was predetermined outcome at the hands of Mitt Romney.

[mtkopf]

@Republican5001 well it is just more proof of the outright greed in this nation.

[Republican5001]

@mtkopf personally, I feel all university's should have all public funding cut and turned private. Sad to say but the fact that education actually happens is just a secondary notion.

[Republican5001]

Hahahahahaa....now this is funny

[mtkopf]

Well, maybe the federal govt should reexamine the tax exempt status of the schools that do not wish to comply. Maybe an IRS audit each year also. Make the schools spend more in legal fees than they would have on insurance.

[CaryNickel]

Or maybe those schools should just shut down, so that there are less choices for higher education. Whenever you regulate something, you get less of it. That is an unchangeable economic law. Obama is reaping exactly what he's sown. ObamaCare will continue to have a negative impact upon the economy for as long as it exists.

[mtkopf]

@CaryNickel I never said anything about regulation. Tax exempt status is a PRIVILEGE of colleges and universities, not a right. According to the IRS, these institutions are required to prove they follow all federal and state laws. The govt has a duty to ensure that these schools are complying with all the rules allowing them tax exempt status.

"Obamacare will continue to have a negative impact upon the economy for as long as it exists." You obviously are unable to see the TRUE problem in this country and this story only goes to prove it: The greed and the "me only" attitude that has been adopted by the wealthy and business leaders in this country, is causing a greater divide between the upper and middle classes.

As a lifelong athlete, a former member of our armed services, and former h.s. coach, I have been around great leaders and was a leader myself. Some of the traits of leadership are taking responsibility for the welfare of those "beneath" you and leading by example. These skills no longer exist in the business community and the GOP.

[CaryNickel]

@mtkopf Federal law says that part time workers are exempt from most, if not all, ObamaCare mandates. Running a business, ANY business, with part-time workers does not violate any law. The "greed" and "me only" attitude exists almost solely among leftists, who want everything from cradle to grave, but do not want to pay for it. ObamaCare is a perfect example of how the President pandered to the "me" generation.

[mtkopf]

@CaryNickel according to the IRS, the bottom 50% of the country only owns 11% of the country's wealth while the top 25% hold 67% of the nation's wealth. So, this is more proof that the greed of this nation lies among the wealthiest in the nation.
I didn't running a business with part-time workers is against any law. But, bc you feel that higher education is a business just goes
to show tthat schools should NOT be non profits and be taxed like any other business.