Legal Question in Employment Law in New York

Loss of health insurance for dependants

I have been working at a small company (3 employees including the owner) for 9 years. Our company has paid employees plus there dependants health insurance fully. Years ago my coworker was married and his wife's coverage was paid for by the company; for the past several years the only dependant covered has been my boss's wife.

4 months ago I was married - this week my boss told me that it was ''too expensive'' for him to continue covering my wife on the company policy. He is going to change the policy so that dependants come out of the employees paycheck. This will affect him as well, so I'm assuming that what he's doing isn't exactly discriminatory - although I'm certainly going to feel this much more than his family since they own the company.

What I'm wondering is this: how soon can he legally make this change take place? Can an employer just announce that they are going to start taking benefits out of your paycheck, and have that start the next week? Will they at least have to put something in writing for me to sign?

Thanks


Asked on 2/02/04, 10:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Loeb Law Office of Stephen R. Loeb

Re: Loss of health insurance for dependants

Unless you have a contract requiring your employer to pick up health insurance payments there is no obligation to do so. This is considered a benefit and benefits are not generally compensation for working. Therefore, in most cases employers can change t heir benefit packages. It could be worse, your employer could be dropping health coverage completely and usually group health coverage is less expensive than individual or family policies. Your other option is to leave your job and finda new position with paid halth coverage. Unfortunately for workers, that option is becoming less and less common.

Should you like to discuss this or any other legal matter, you can call my office to schedule an appointment for a consultation or in the alternative, I can be reached for on-phone low-cost legal consultation at 1-800-275-5336 x0233699.

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Answered on 2/03/04, 9:21 am


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