Attorney Marc Grimaldi: Staples: "Unfortunate" That Obama Is Attacking A Major Employer And Taxpayer

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Staples: "Unfortunate" That Obama Is Attacking A Major Employer And Taxpayer

In an interview with BuzzFeed News, the president had harsh words for the company, which is strictly limiting the hours of part-time workers as the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate kicks in.

Getty Images / Joe Raedle

Staples has shot back at President Obama over comments made to BuzzFeed News, where he criticized the company for its policy of limiting the number of hours worked by its part-time employees.

"I suspect that they could well afford to treat their workers favorably and give them some basic financial security," President Obama said in an interview Tuesday with BuzzFeed News. "And if they can't, then they should be willing to allow those workers to get the Affordable Care Act without cutting wages."

The comments were made in response to a BuzzFeed News report showing the company has begun strictly enforcing a rule limiting part-time workers to 25 hours of work per week. Some part-time employees said their hours have been cut severely in recent months, leading to hundreds of dollars of lost monthly wages. A memo posted at one Staples store said "recent changes have necessitated a strong stance" on the weekly hours policy, and employees could be subject to disciplinary action including firing if they exceeded the limit.

"It's unfortunate that the president is attacking a company that provides more than 85,000 jobs and is a major tax payer," Staples spokesperson Mark Cautela said in a statement. "We are very proud of our associates and offer competitive wages and benefits. Staples is a leader in helping associates build a secure future."

Cautela said the company policy limiting part-time workers' hours has existed for more than a decade, predating the Affordable Care Act. Staples employees have told BuzzFeed News that enforcement has become particularly strict this year, as an Affordable Care Act provision requiring employers to offer health insurance to staff working more than 30 hours per week kicked into effect.

In January 2014, BuzzFeed News reported that a Staples memo to store managers said the company was "implementing a policy" regarding part-time worker hours, limiting them to 25 per week. The memo included a guide offering talking points for managers needing to explain the new rules to staff, describing it as a "new policy."