Why do employers continue to pay for health insurance?

[lapislzi]

41. Because some business owners still believe in Doing the Right Thing

My employer is under no obligation to provide insurance to his staff. His legal obligation, before the ACA, was zero.

Yet, for the 15 years I have worked here, he has covered 100% of my insurance costs, and those of my husband and daughter. I pay co-pays and deductibles, which, though bothersome, are NOTHING compared to the tens of thousands of dollars my boss shells out every month for the 35 or so people who work here.

It is a total pain in the ass for him and HR to haggle with the bean counters at Ripoff du Jour, but they do it nonetheless. Because he cares about the people who work here. He visits them if they're hospitalized. He goes to funerals. He (usually) remembers birthdays.

His reward is an unusually loyal workforce. I don't think anyone's ever taken home so much as a Post-It note or fudged their time sheet. If we're late we work our hours, no questions asked. We have an exceptionally civilized office.

I guarantee you my boss will go on paying our premiums regardless of what he might "save" by paying the fines.

And, FWIW, he can't wait until there's universal single-payer. As far as he's concerned, that is the only humane way to deal with health care.

Drop in sometime. You'll see what benefits an ethical employer enjoys.