According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, it was found that unionized employers offered 27% more health benefits than nonunion employers. It was also found that out of the 67% of workers that are offered Health care by their non-unionized employer only 52% accepted to participate in the health benefits. Why would they not want it? There are multiple factors that go into this. The employee might already have a preexisting health plan that they feel comfortable in, and that can include working at another job, and having it from there. According to Ed Doland in a article he wrote titled What’s Wrong with Employer Sponsored Health Insurance , he states, "the lowest fifth of the wage distribution are offered health benefits and that fewer than 20 percent accept those offers. In contrast, more than 80 percent of those in the top fifth of the wage distribution are offered health benefits and accept them." A possible explanation for this is that the health plan offered by the employer is too expensive for the employee to afford. Doland claims that these numbers are what they are because these health plans benefit people of higher tax brackets. Unlike union employers anti-union corporations offer health plan that on average cost 10% more. And although not having health insurance is illegal and has a fine attached to it, it may be cheaper to pay the fine rather than acquire a health plan.
Although these numbers are high and respectable, some of you reading this might not be receiving the health benefits you deserve. This part of the hiring evaluation is often overlooked by the hires who have been desperately looking for a job. People in this group include but are not limited to minorities, single parents, ageing adults and other combinations of these. The jobs they usually take a part of are part-time jobs, and according to healthcare.gov, "Employers aren’t required to provide health insurance for part-time employees", Many of these groups are often locked in place, they believe that having this job is the best its going to get. To all those out there, you are not alone, there are non-profits waiting to hear you, additionally there are health plans known as community health plans, click here to check if you are eligible.
Another aspect of this is workers compensation. There are multiple ways businesses avoid paying workers compensation and it is important that you review the claims. Corporations often downplay injury, lie about the situation, blame the associate, and even classify workers as independent contractors. Classifying workers as independent contractors forfeits that workers rights to workers compensation through the company they work for. Here is a video of an Amazon employee speaking out about her on site injury and the ways in which Amazon mistreated her. Shes is one of many, as stated in the video.
As stated in the video, there are non-profits waiting to hear from you and ready to provide you with the proper resources. COSH is one of these nonprofit organizations.