A large majority of Americans support Republican lawmakers' attempt to change the Affordable Care Act's definition of a full-time work week from 30 hours to 40 hours, according to a new poll from Morning Consult.
Among more than 1,700 registered voters, 74 percent consider a 40-hour work week to be full-time employment. Just 20 percent of survey respondents said 30 hours constitutes a full-time work week.
The results come less than a week after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to redefine the full-time work week under the ACA to 40 hours in an effort to help companies cope with the employer mandate to provide health insurance, FierceHealthPayer previously reported. The Senate is working to pass its own version of the House bill.
In fact, 58 percent of survey respondents said they support the House bill changing full-time employment to 40 hours, while 32 percent oppose the change.
Unlike the work week change, the survey respondents weren't as supportive of Republicans' opposition to the employer mandate.
GOP lawmakers believe the mandate forces companies to limit their part-time workers' hours, The Hill reported. But almost 60 percent of registered voters support the ACA employer mandate overall, an increase from a November Morning Consult poll that found 53 percent support the provision.
Other findings from the survey include:
- 45 percent of voters believe the employer mandate is hurting jobs,
- 38 percent said the mandate is increasing the number of people with health insurance and
- 55 percent think companies should provide health insurance for part-time employees.
To learn more:
- read the Morning Consult survey
- see The Hill article