(January 8, 2015) Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would restore the traditional definition of full-time employment under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) back to 40-hours per week, which the American workforce has lived by for decades.

Restoring this definition is critical for our industry and a priority for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Grassroots action by WLA members and hoteliers around the country helpedpass this legislation, H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act of 2015.

“Changing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) definition of a full-time employee back to the traditional 40 hours is a crucial adjustment needed to ensure the law is made more workable for hoteliers – many of whom are small businesses – and more importantly their hard-working employees,” said AH&LA president and CEO Katherine Lugar.

“The healthcare law’s existing – and arbitrary – 30-hour definition severely restricts the scheduling flexibility so valuable to our industry’s workforce. In many instances, these employees may end up taking a second job in order to make up the income shortfall caused by fewer working hours.”