Disney cast members offered full-time jobs with insurance

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Oct 2, 2013 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

427 part-time Walt Disney World cast members have been offered full-time jobs under the Affordable Care Act. In the last year, these cast members have worked over 1,500 hours, which is the new marker for when employers need to begin offering health care benefits. Several of the unions at Disney are concerned because some of the employees who are gaining health care actually have less years on the job than others, so they wouldn't normally be next in line for full-time work. Walt Disney World currently has 27,000 full-time cast members who are benefit eligible.

Many companies, including SeaWorld, are reducing their part-time hours to fall beneath the limit. SeaWorld's part-time employees will be capped at 28 hours instead of 32. The company does say full-time benefit-eligible employees will be added at all of its parks next year. SeaWorld currently has 4,400 full-time employees.