Retail chain Forever 21 occupies a large space in Seattle and in the hearts of its loyal customers.
"They have good deals," said Michayla Tompson of Seattle. "They're fashionable. And I feel like with their pieces you can make it your own." "They're adorable," agreed Grace Blumenstein of Bellevue. "You can mix and match. Yeah, I really like the store."
But what they didn't know is that the chain is cutting some full-time employees to 29 1/2 hours and taking away their health care coverage, just as the Affordable Care Act kicks in requiring all employers to provide health care for anyone working at least 30 hours. It's a trend that seems to be happening across the country.
"I don't think it's very fair," said Blumenstein. "They're just taking them away, midterm, It's not right."
Not right, but is it legal? We put that question to labor lawyer Mike Subit. "Unless they are doing it for an illegal reason or unless it violates somebody's contract, they can do it," Subit said. "Whether it's a good idea or a bad idea, it's not an illegal idea."
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