Lacey Lidl To Offer Health Care To Part-Time Workers

LACEY, NJ — Lidl will make health coverage a little more accessible for employees. The grocery chain will offer health care benefits to all part-time employees beginning Jan 1.

The announcement comes as some retailers are cutting health benefits. Whole Foods recently decided to cut healthcare coverage for part-time employees who work more than 20 hours a week, according to Business Insider.

Lidl's move will affect its 1,200 part-time employees nationwide and 110 workers in New Jersey. Employees working less than 30 hours per week will also have access to dental and vision insurance. Employees will be able to enroll for benefits in November.

"Health Benefits are the cornerstone to employee loyalty and part of building morale,” Lacey Township Mayor Timothy McDonald said in a statement. “We are pleased Lidl has made this generous offer to their team members and it will complement the other benefits Lidl already offers their employees."

Under the Affordable Care Act, employers must provide health benefits to employees working 30 hours per week or 130 hours a month. That leaves employers with the option not to offer health care benefits to part-time employees.

“We want our team to have the peace of mind knowing they have healthcare coverage,” said Lidl US Chairman Roman Heini. “Giving team members working part-time at Lidl access to medical benefits is incredibly important and it will help them succeed."

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Lacey Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.