Whole Foods reduces medical benefits for part-time workers

Whole Foods reduces medical benefits for some employees.Business Insider / Hayley Peterson

• Whole Foods reduces medical benefits for hundreds of part-time workers.

• The Amazon-owned company told Business Insider that it was reducing its benefits "to better meet the needs of our business and create a more equitable and efficient planning model."
• "I'm in shock," said a Whole Foods employee. "I have been working here for 15 years, which is why I keep my job – because of my benefits."

• Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.

Whole Foods cuts medical benefits for hundreds of part-time workers, confirmed the company at Business Insider on Thursday.

The changes will take effect January 1 and will reach a little less than 2% of the total workforce of Whole Foods, said a spokeswoman for Whole Foods Business Insider.

Whole Foods has about 95,000 employees, which means that about 1,900 people will lose benefits.

The benefits that the company removes are offered to part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week. The changes will not affect full-time employees.

Whole Foods stated that it is making the change "to better meet the needs of our business and create a more equitable and efficient planning model."

"The small percentage of part-time team members (…) who have previously opted for Whole Foods Market's health care plan – less than 2% of the total workforce – will be more eligible for medical coverage via the company, "said Whole. The Foods spokesperson said.

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"We provide members of the team with resources to find other health care coverage options or to explore full-time and eligible health care positions, starting at 30 hours a week. All members of the Whole Foods Market Team continue to receive benefits including a discount store. "

A Whole Foods employee, age 15, said she was devastated by the news.

In an interview, she told Business Insider that her family was covered by the health insurance plan she was registered for at Whole Foods.

She added that she should increase her hours to qualify for full-time benefits and pay for childcare, or buy a new, potentially more expensive health insurance plan on the market private. She spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

"I'm in shock," she says. "I have been working here for 15 years, which is why I keep my job – because of my benefits."

If you work for Whole Foods, contact this reporter at [email protected].