UPS won't insure spouses of many employees

[cheryl]

UPS won't insure spouses of many employees - USA Today

Partly blaming the health law, United Parcel Service is set to remove thousands of spouses from its medical plan because they are eligible for coverage elsewhere.

Many analysts downplay the Affordable Care Act's effect on companies such as UPS, noting that the move is part of a long-term trend of shrinking corporate medical benefits. But the shipping giant repeatedly cites the act to explain the decision, adding fuel to the debate over whether it erodes traditional employer coverage.

Rising medical costs, "combined with the costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, have made it increasingly difficult to continue providing the same level of health care benefits to our employees at an affordable cost," UPS said in a memo to employees.

 

[Packmule]

So I take it from the story, "white collar employees" means management only, not hourly?

 

[Jackburton]

I noticed they used the "white collar" phrase also. Why not just say non-contractual employees or salaried employees.

 

[Kae3106]

This is hitting the management and all of the non-union administrative and technical folks. There were well over 1000 angry comments when the news was posted on UPSers a couple of months ago. In addition to the working spouse exclusion, all tobacco users are being charged an extra $150/month for insurance.

 

[thessalonian13]

I noticed they used the "white collar" phrase also. Why not just say non-contractual employees or salaried employees.

Yes... white collar employees are their management people. I love how UPS blames the Affordable care Act when it has been reported that health care costs for large corporations have gone down by 4% this year as compared to last year because of this law. For a company that makes $4 to $5+ billion a year in clean profit, $60 million is nothing for taking care of your employees. I am a driver and I think it's awful what this company does to their managers.

 

[SignificantOwner]

Being a long term UPS management employee is getting embarrassing.

 

[Catatonic]

Being a long term UPS management employee is getting embarrassing.

​Suicide is not the answer.

 

[728ups]

Do the Higher Ranks of management give a damn about the furue of UPS ? I have been worried for years about the future of the company due to the (low and getting lower) standards of the part time employees that are hired ,and now this will push many bright talented Management to other companies,and will damned sure be yet another reason for many hourly having ZERO interest in being promoted.
I'm not the smartest person here but I 'm fairly certain we need great people in both Hourly and Management ranks to sustain a successful company. What am I missing????

 

[728ups]

Do the Higher Ranks of management give a damn about the furue of UPS ? I have been worried for years about the future of the company due to the (low and getting lower) standards of the part time employees that are hired ,and now this will push many bright talented Management to other companies,and will damned sure be yet another reason for many hourly having ZERO interest in being promoted.
I'm not the smartest person here but I 'm fairly certain we need great people in both Hourly and Management ranks to sustain a successful company. What am I missing????

 

[Catatonic]

Do the Higher Ranks of management give a damn about the furue of UPS ? I have been worried for years about the future of the company due to the (low and getting lower) standards of the part time employees that are hired ,and now this will push many bright talented Management to other companies,and will damned sure be yet another reason for many hourly having ZERO interest in being promoted.
I'm not the smartest person here but I 'm fairly certain we need great people in both Hourly and Management ranks to sustain a successful company. What am I missing????

UPS management tends to see employees as a head count and that all are interchangeable.
It was incredibly frustrating because you knew when a decision was made to move a person it was going to hurt.
This was realized and now people are left in their positions longer except there are a few dinosaurs that think everyone has to be moved on a periodic basis.
When you pay people less, you get less motivated people. The key is to let them stay in their position longer.
Honestly, you don't need talented people at UPS except in a small percentage of positions.
​It's really pretty damn simple what we do. The key is execution and cost control.

 

[Catatonic]

Do the Higher Ranks of management give a damn about the furue of UPS ? I have been worried for years about the future of the company due to the (low and getting lower) standards of the part time employees that are hired ,and now this will push many bright talented Management to other companies,and will damned sure be yet another reason for many hourly having ZERO interest in being promoted.
I'm not the smartest person here but I 'm fairly certain we need great people in both Hourly and Management ranks to sustain a successful company. What am I missing????

UPS management tends to see employees as a head count and that all are interchangeable.
It was incredibly frustrating because you knew when a decision was made to move a person it was going to hurt.
This was realized and now people are left in their positions longer except there are a few dinosaurs that think everyone has to be moved on a periodic basis.
When you pay people less, you get less motivated people. The key is to let them stay in their position longer.
Honestly, you don't need talented people at UPS except in a small percentage of positions.
​It's really pretty damn simple what we do. The key is execution and cost control.

 

[Signature Only]

​Then what is?

​Suicide is not the answer.

 

[Packmule]

UPS management tends to see employees as a head count and that all are interchangeable.
It was incredibly frustrating because you knew when a decision was made to move a person it was going to hurt.
This was realized and now people are left in their positions longer except there are a few dinosaurs that think everyone has to be moved on a periodic basis.
When you pay people less, you get less motivated people. The key is to let them stay in their position longer.
Honestly, you don't need talented people at UPS except in a small percentage of positions.
​It's really pretty damn simple what we do. The key is execution and cost control.

While it may not take rocket science to do some of this stuff, it does take motivation because it is physically and emotionally draining. That is where pay and benefits come in. This is a bad move on the company's part.

 

[Catatonic]

While it may not take rocket science to do some of this stuff, it does take motivation because it is physically and emotionally draining. That is where pay and benefits come in. This is a bad move on the company's part.

You do realize I was talking about management positions?
​Specifically operations at the district level.

 

[728ups]

UPS management tends to see employees as a head count and that all are interchangeable.
It was incredibly frustrating because you knew when a decision was made to move a person it was going to hurt.
This was realized and now people are left in their positions longer except there are a few dinosaurs that think everyone has to be moved on a periodic basis.
When you pay people less, you get less motivated people. The key is to let them stay in their position longer.
Honestly, you don't need talented people at UPS except in a small percentage of positions.
​It's really pretty damn simple what we do. The key is execution and cost control.

I see your point ,but where will UPS get the Leadership for the next 100 years? to paraphrase Jim Casey" If a company stops growing it will begin dying' .I can see the beginning of this now as emphasis is placed on Production and Cost instead of Service.
We are getting Orion at the first of the year and I simply do not see my customers (many who depend on what I deliver for their livelihood) to have a warm fuzzy feeling from getting their packages at 1600 when they need them at 100. I have my doubts that they will be sympathetic to the plan of reducing miles

 

[SignificantOwner]

You do realize I was talking about management positions?
​Specifically operations at the district level.

​SLAM!! This is the corporate mindset?

 

[Black_6_Leader]

And today, its in the NY Times too http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/b...benefits-for-spouses-of-some-workers.html?hpw

 

[3216mjh]

I told my UPS husband years ago that it wouldn't be long until they make the working spouse go on their own company sponsored health plan. Everytime we or our boys would go to the doctor, we would get a survey thing in the mail from some marketing company paid by UPS that would ask if we had another health plan available to us in additon to what UPS provided. I also told him that the day they make the working spouse go to their own plan would be the day I would be quitting my job. Our company health plan premiums and little coverage is outrageous where I work and I work for an insurance company!! Calculate the commute and the health care premiums and it wouldn't pay me enough to work. My time would be better spent with my family. Things would be a little tight but we could make it work if we needed. And if I am thinking it, you know there are other spouses that are thinking it, too. Now tell me if you think the Obamacare plan was a good solution to our health care problems. They jacked up the premiums on tobacco users? Wait until they rate the employees who are overweight. And we will be rated against their standards on what is considered a healthy weight. Those of you who think you are ok, think again! It's coming. The company I work for makes you do certain things to put in your company account to pay against your health care premiums. Things like wear a pedometer and log in your steps per day for a quarterly review, get your blood tested for cholesterol and A1c levels, blood pressure, weight, BMI, breast exams, etc. - all done at the company clinic. Don't tell me that they don't track all of that stuff. If you don't do these things, you pay higher premiums. High premiums with high deductibles - as low as $2,500 for single, $7,500 for family. It goes up from there. No thanks!

 

[Ms.PacMan]

What’s Obamacare Got to Do With It? - Bloomberg

 

[Catatonic]

What’s Obamacare Got to Do With It? - Bloomberg

Eliminating spousal coverage reduces the risk and exposure to the cadillac tax that starts in 2018.

Other than that, probably not much.

Just another benefit enhancement for UPS.