“It is the single biggest job killer in America.”

“Americans all over this country are suffering because of Obamacare.”

“If we are really serious about stopping Obamacare, we’ll destroy the entire planet.”

All comments made by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) regarding Obamacare in just the last month. And whether you’re listening to the political rhetoric on television or reading about it in an article, these comments are enough to make you seriously question how the Affordable Care Act will affect you.

But, will it really hurt employees working for small businesses?

Let’s take a look.

Obamacare vs. Small Business Jobs

What does the Affordable Care Act require of small businesses? It’s simple.

• Companies that employ 50 or more full-time workers — or the equivalent in part-time workers — must provide health-care coverage to all of their full-time employees
• Failure to do so will result in the government calculating fine based off of their number of employees – And, that doesn’t begin until 2015

So, what’s the big deal? Well, many believe that forcing these companies to provide healthcare to their employees will result in hours or jobs being cut. They want to prevent employees from being wrongfully terminated.

A valid concern, but the so-called “catastrophe” that will result from Obamacare is mere propaganda in the eyes of many economists.

Why?

Because only 3 percent of small business actually have more than 50 employees, allowing for approximately 97 percent of small businessto become exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s mandates.

And, it would appear that many politicians and others who appose Obamacare are using reports generated by the Congressional Budget Office in 2010 to argue that employees of small business will work less. However, it would appear their reason for opposition has been misguided.

Although the economists’ stand by their findings, their calculations found that the individuals “want” to work after receiving benefits would be affected, not the employers demand for labor.

Benefits of Obamacare to the Uninsured

When it comes down to it, The Affordable Care Act was designed and signed into law to benefit those who are uninsured. If you’re insured either through your company or have Medicaid, there is no need to worry.

With affordable health insurance available, you’re given the option to purchase if you’re not insured or if you want to change coverage. You won’t feel obligated to stay in a job you hate merely because of the benefits.

If you’ve found yourself unemployed or wrongfully terminated, you don’t have to worry about getting sick and not being able to seek help.

Don’t let everything you hear about Obamacare scare you. There are benefits to this health care act that will benefit not only small business, but uninsured people throughout the U.S..

And, we also understand the concerns employees face. So, if you’ve found yourself wrongfully terminated or discriminated against in the workplace, contact us today. We’ll schedule a free consultation and get you back on your feet.

**Photo courtesy of Ted Cruz Republican for US Senate campaign.

Please Note: At the time this article was written, the information contained within it was current based on the prevailing law at the time. Laws and precedents are subject to change, so this information may not be up to date. Always speak with a law firm regarding any legal situation to get the most current information available.