Breaking Down San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance: What You Need to Know
San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) is a landmark initiative that has been praised by advocates of workers’ rights and healthcare. The HCSO is a law that requires employers to provide affordable health care benefits to their employees, which means that workers in San Francisco have access to much-needed health care coverage.
In this article, we’ll be breaking down San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance to help you understand the key aspects. We’ll be exploring what the law covers, who is responsible for complying with it, and what the consequences are for non-compliance.
What is the HCSO?
The HCSO is a law that requires employers in San Francisco to provide health care benefits to their employees. The law applies to all businesses with 20 or more employees. The benefits provided must meet certain minimum requirements, which include hospitalization, prescription medications, and mental health care.
What Employers Need to Know
Employers are responsible for complying with the HCSO. This means that they must provide their employees with affordable health care benefits that meet the minimum requirements set out in the law. Employers can either provide these benefits directly to their employees or contribute to a city program that provides the benefits on their behalf.
Employers who fail to comply with the HCSO may be subject to fines and penalties, which can be up to $500 per employee per quarter. In addition to these fines, employers may also be required to provide retroactive payments to employees who were not provided with the required benefits.
What Employees Need to Know
Employees in San Francisco have a right to affordable health care benefits thanks to the HCSO. This means that if they work for an employer who is subject to the law, they should have access to health care coverage that meets the minimum requirements.
Employees who believe that their employer is not complying with the HCSO can file a complaint with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement. The complaint will be investigated, and if the employer is found to be in violation of the law, they may be required to pay fines and provide retroactive payments to employees.
Conclusion
The San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance is an important law that ensures workers in San Francisco have access to affordable health care benefits. Employers in the city are responsible for complying with the law and providing their employees with coverage that meets the minimum requirements. Employees who believe that their employer is not complying with the law should file a complaint with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement. By doing so, they may be able to secure the health care coverage that they are entitled to.
