"We are now a socialist country"

[^_^ 5,021]

At a staff meeting at my wife's place of employment yesterday, they were informed of major changes to their company-sponsored healthcare.

For the last two decades or so, employees with 15 years of seniority or more were eligible for a more generous cost-sharing arrangement with their employer. The school pays about 15% of premium cost for employees with less than 15 years of seniority, while those with 15+ years get 45% paid by the employer. Both groups of employees have access to the same set of plans (no HMO or POS, just 3 varieties of PPOs).

Starting 2011, all employees are going to have 15% of the share of premium-cost paid by the employee. Given the fact that insurance premiums have been rising steadily for years, that this would happen eventually is not very surprising. What is surprising, however, is how they spun it to their employees.

The school manager arrived at the meeting and was yielded the floor by the principal. The manager proceeds to inform the group of teachers and admin staff that "thanks to those of you who voted for the current administration, we are now a socialist country". The manager then decided to educate the group of people on what socialism means. He says, and this is verbatim according to my wife - "in a socalist country, we are no longer allowed to treat those of you who have worked harder and longer any better than a new hire." As he said this, the principal stood next to him with an exaggerated sadness to her face. She then stood up to the mic and with a trembling voice told everyone she'd love to be able to treat her senior employees better but "unfortunately in a socialist country I am no longer allowed to do that."

As is typical for that group of employees, no one said anything. No one asked any questions. That would never happen where I work, but my wife tells me that level of docility is normal there.

Do those of you who hate Obamacare condone scare tactics and lies like this?

[Peikko 1,575]

What kind of school is this? Is the principal in general considered an intelligent person? There are many ways to describe the change in health insurance rules in this instance, but 'we are now a socialist country' is not one of them.

[^_^ 5,021]

What kind of school is this? Is the principal in general considered an intelligent person? There are many ways to describe the change in health insurance rules in this instance, but 'we are now a socialist country' is not one of them.

Private. The people who own this school are loyal Republicans. They even asked my wife and other teachers at a staff meeting last year to vote for Governor Christie.

[Peikko 1,575]

Private. The people who own this school are loyal Republicans. They even asked my wife and other teachers at a staff meeting last year to vote for Governor Christie.

Well, asking employees to vote for a specific candidate is odd, but as long as they do not sack people who do not comply with their requests I guess it is ok. I have to say that bringing political ideological bias into daily life in this way sounds exhausting - I just can not imagine most people doing that.

[^_^ 5,021]

Well, asking employees to vote for a specific candidate is odd, but as long as they do not sack people who do not comply with their requests I guess it is ok. I have to say that bringing political ideological bias into daily life in this way sounds exhausting - I just can not imagine most people doing that.

The way I see it, they saw an opportunity to save a ton of money by downgrading their senior-most employees (there are quite a few) to 15%. Political ideology was a handy excuse.

[chri'stina 190]

Sounds like a very awkward meeting. I could see something like that happening at the last school I worked at too, a Montessori(not religious). The people who owned it were a mix of hippie and far right conservative. But they didn't give any of us insurance nor full time hours. lol.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

For the last two decades or so, employees with 15 years of seniority or more were eligible for a more generous cost-sharing arrangement with their employer. The school pays about 15% of premium cost for employees with less than 15 years of seniority, while those with 15+ years get 45% paid by the employer. Both groups of employees have access to the same set of plans (no HMO or POS, just 3 varieties of PPOs).

Starting 2011, all employees are going to have 15% of the share of premium-cost paid by the employee. Given the fact that insurance premiums have been rising steadily for years, that this would happen eventually is not very surprising.

Actually, it is. With health insurance premiums on the rise, employees typically get to pick up larger parts of the premium. Per the above posted, employees in this particular school have thus far paid either 85% (junior staff) or 55% (senior staff) of their premiums. Starting next year, all employess will pay only 15%. That's a nice added benefit for every employee although more so for the junior vs. the senior staff.

[^_^ 5,021]

Actually, it is. With health insurance premiums on the rise, employees typically get to pick up larger parts of the premium. Per the above posted, employees in this particular school have thus far paid either 85% (junior staff) or 55% (senior staff) of their premiums. Starting next year, all employess will pay only 15%.

No, starting next year all employees will pay 85% of premium cost. My apologies if my language was unclear.

[^_^ 5,021]

Starting 2011, all employees are going to have 15% of the share of premium-cost paid by the employee.

Correction: Starting 2011, all employees are going to have 15% of the share of premium-cost paid by the employer.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The way I see it, they saw an opportunity to save a ton of money by downgrading their senior-most employees (there are quite a few) to 15%. Political ideology was a handy excuse.

Now, if they could get rid of that nasty tenure thing...

[^_^ 5,021]

Now, if they could get rid of that nasty tenure thing...

Private school. No tenure.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

No, starting next year all employees will pay 85% of premium cost. My apologies if my language was unclear.

That is kinda suckass. Even Walmart pays 50% of premium cost.

[^_^ 5,021]

That is kinda suckass. Even Walmart pays 50% of premium cost.

My employer pays 25%. I believe the private sector average is in the mid-20s.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

My employer pays 25%. I believe the private sector average is in the mid-20s.

Yep, Definitely suckass. Last time I worked for a small employer, or any employer, it was 50%, and I forwent my annual raise one year in exchange for him to pay 100% of my premium ($130/month for a premium HMO plan). Of course, that was 20 years ago.

[Heracles 417]

Yep, Definitely suckass. Last time I worked ..... Of course, that was 20 years ago.

Yet you are an expert on so many things relating to employment.

The irony of this is that how can the US be a socialist country, when these things cost significantly less in all socialist countries?

The people who make these claims prove they don;t know what they are talking about, beyond cliches. One minute socialist provide bad service, the next they are the cause of increasing prices; which directly contradicts the point of socialism. So which is?

Edited September 28, 2010 by Heracles