I’m extremely pleased to announce that Isaac’s reduced the amount employees pay for their health insurance by about 25% beginning July 1, 2007. This includes all 160 employees who have insurance, including the part-timers who work just above the eligibility threshold of 25 hours each week. We were pleased to be able to do this without changing the other benefits of the plan. Employees are getting the same plan they had for the past 12 months, but they are just paying less for it.

Isaac’s, as a company, tries to take care of employees as best we can. We believe that employees deserve healthcare, and we try to do everything possible to make it accessible. The company also has a wellness program that subsidizes gym memberships and smoking cessation programs. Health America, our health care insurer, has been a very helpful partner in all our wellness initiatives.

I want to make a special note about our 25 hour per week eligibility threshold, because I am very proud of how this works. Employees who want health insurance through the company must work at least 25 hours each week to keep their insurance. We use this, in the opposite way, from employers who don’t allow employees to get enough hours to qualify for benefits. We work hard to keep people eligible who need insurance. We find them extra shifts or do whatever it takes to get their 25 hours. From our perspective, a part-time employee is just as deserving as a full-time employee. Anyway, we are proud we were able to reduce the cost for healthcare by 25% beginning July 1.

My personal contention is that Americans need Healthcare, not Health Insurance. But until the system is changed, we will continue to fulfill our obligation at Isaac’s to take care of our employees and provide insurance that is worthwhile and affordable. (If you want to get involved in the Universal Health Care movement, click here to send me an email)

We were really happy to get the following note in the office.  It’s addressed to me, which is flattering, but not accurate - this decision to reduce the employee cost was made by the entire leadership team, not just me.