News

Miss Auburn top five callouts Nov. 7

By Ben Ruffin | Campus Writer | November 7

The Student Government Association held its callouts for the top five candidates for Miss Auburn Thursday, Nov. 7, on the Cater lawn.

Obamacare leaves some employees hurting

By Ben Hohenstatt / CAMPUS REPORTER | November 7

President Barack Obama ran on a platform of change, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, is causing plenty of that at Auburn. The healthcare reform also known as Obamacare, changes the health insurance policy employees are offered and the number of hours temporary employees can work. PPACA was signed into law March 23, 2010, and was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States June 28, 2012. The legislation requires employers to offer health insurance to full-time employees and contains a mandate defining a full-time employee as someone who works 30 hours per week. "The biggest change the Affordable Care Act is the one the president has put on hold: the Employer Mandate," said Gary Ward, manager for employee benefits. Ward said the mandate would require Auburn to offer insurance to employees who work more than 30 hours per week because they would be considered full-time employees. Karla McCormick, executive director for payroll and employee benefits, said Auburn considers an employee full time if they work 40 hours or more per week. "Auburn's definition of full-time status is based on working 40 hours per week," McCormick said.