I heard from a source that should know that in 2013, all part-time workers couldn't work more than

[raccoon]

29 hours.
(And that if the state—or any other employer--did work them more than 29 hours it would be fined.)

I also heard this had to do with the new insurance law.

Anybody know anything about this?

[onethatcares]

1. we haven't gotten to 2013 yet,

or was I not here for the end of 2012?

[abelenkpe]

2. We're switching to a 30 hour full time work week?

Woo Hoo!

[2pooped2pop]

3. They are just trying to avoid paying for insurance

for the workers. They don't have to pay benefits on part timers. They are probably adjusting the law so they can get the max hours out of them without having to consider them full time and pay their benefits.

Just my guess

[crunch60]

7. I worked for a large company in Nevada. In about 2009, they started to fire people

in every department, some who had been with the company for 20 years. Then they hired part-timers to take up the slack. All part timers worked under 32 hrs. per week and did not receive any benefits. So they got rid of people who had full benefits and 4 weeks vacation, saving the company a lot of money. So this new policy has been has been happening for some time.

By the time I left in 2010, they had fired or laid off thousands of workers company wide. So now it will be the norm I suspect.

Back then, people were told it was because of the terrible economy so as to justify this downsizing/restructuring.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. a Google search reveals almost nothing

so little that this thread is #7 on the list

[elleng]

5. Don't know, but found this:

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/part_time_full_time.html

Includes this:

Certain benefits have specific rules, however:

Pension or retirement benefits – if a company offers such benefits, the federal law known as ERISA provides that an employee who works at least 1,000 hours in a twelve-month period must be given the chance to elect participation in the pension or retirement plan (this is known informally as the "thousand-hour rule" – see 29 U.S.C. § 1052)

Health insurance benefits – if an employer has a health insurance plan, Rule 28 T.A.C. § 26.4(15) provides that an "eligible employee" is anyone who usually works at least 30 hours per week.

[auburngrad82]

6. Typically if you work under 30 hours you're considered part time and not eligible for benefits

such as health insurance. I have a relative who works for Wal-Mart and they try to keep everyone under 30 hours to avoid paying benefits.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I don't know, but there have always been rules about # of hours before being considered full time.

That's why Penney's and other large retailers often work their staff less than 30 hours a week....so they don't have to provide benefits like vacation, ins., and such. That only applies, I think, if the employer is large, AND if the employer provides such benefits to "full time" workers. There is no law making an employer provide vacation or ins. to its employees.

I think small employers may be exempt from such rules, but I'm not sure.