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Email Story to a Friend May 27, 2006 Wal-Mart defends 'peak time' Store chain says shift to reduced hours for employees not related to health benefits The Washington Post Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is shifting a portion of its full-time employees to part-time status, company critics say, which they assert will have the effect of limiting health insurance, even though the company is expanding coverage for its part-time workers. Company spokesman Dan Fogelman said Wal-Mart is not necessarily forcing workers into part-time schedules, but is "trying to ensure that our staffing matches our customer shopping patterns. But there is no specific target number in terms of how many associates will be full-time versus part-time." The majority of Wal-Mart jobs are currently full-time, he said. The criticism arose after WakeUp Wal-Mart obtained detailed copies of the new health plans, which the company confirmed Thursday. The company, which announced the changes in general terms in a press release this month, is offering open enrollment for part-time workers this week only if they also enroll their dependent children, who were not eligible for coverage before. Another open enrollment will be available to all employees in October. The new benefit plan for "Peak-Time" workers — Wal-Mart's name for part-timers — also shortens the waiting period for part-time employees to obtain coverage from two years to one year. But the plan will be unaffordable for workers who are moved from full-time wages to part-time, said Chris Kofinis, a spokesman with WakeUp Wal-Mart, a group funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Advertisement Many plans are offered. The "value plan" has a $23 premium per month for individuals and $65 for families, with a deductible of $1,000 per person and a family maximum of $3,000. The most popular "network saver plan" ranges from $39 to $79 per month with deductibles of $350 to $1,000. Those workers who are moved to part-time status can keep their current health plan until the end of the year, but they will lose other benefits such as dental and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability as soon as they move to part-time hours, according to the plan document. Employees are told if they keep the plan they had as full-time employees when they move to part-time, however, "your cost for this coverage will not change and you may be working fewer hours." The company has touted the plan in recent months, saying the coverage is more comprehensive than ever. "Wal-Mart is one of the few retailers that offers benefits to part-time associates and premiums are as low as $11 per month," said Mona Williams, a company spokeswoman. "With this special open enrollment, we have expanded eligibility and made coverage available to the children of our associates who choose to work part-time." Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Ashley Furniture HomeStore Advertisements Advertisement