Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2014 | Page 60

HEALTHY CHOICES?
and, most recently, White House and
Treasury officials to discuss the impact
of the ACA on restaurant jobs.
When it comes to taking action in
his restaurants, however, Barr has taken
a more measured approach than Fox.
“My thesis is different in that I did not
implement the ACA provisions early,”
he says. “I do not believe that for the
extra cost that I will get a reduction in
employee turnover or [increased] productivity.” His plan is not to implement
until required by law.
“I do not believe there will be as
significant a cost to most QSR chains
as first anticipated because the employees will not be signing up for it,” he
says. “I say that because they will still
not find it affordable, even though the
government says 9.5 percent of wages
is affordable.”
Doing good, but anonymously

One franchisee we interviewed for
this story was willing to talk only off
the record. That’s because his attorney
advised him there are lawyers on the
prowl across the country seeking busi-

David Barr

nesses they can file class action lawsuits
against, claiming that some business
operators are cutting employee hours
to get around the requirement to cover
them under the ACA. Ironically, while
this franchisee is providing healthcare
insurance above and beyond what the
law requires, he still is concerned that
he could become the target of a spurious lawsuit.
The way this multi-unit operator
sees it, every franchisee has the op-

IMPACT ON BUSINESS

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t April’s Multi-Unit Franchi