WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President and Employee Benefits Policy Counsel Neil Trautwein on the Department of Treasury’s announcement to delay specific employer provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The Administration is set to delay the employer mandate until January 1, 2015.
“We commend the Administration’s wise move to delay the employer reporting and penalty obligations under the Affordable Care Act.
“This one year delay will provide employers and businesses more time to update their health care coverage without threat of arbitrary punishment.
“The National Retail Federation has worked hard to engage and educate our diverse membership on the upcoming ACA requirements and consistently and empathetically called on the Administration to delay these specific regulations. We appreciate the Administration’s recognition of employer concerns and hope it will allow for greater flexibility in the future.
“NRF will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that health care reform implementation protects our members, small business owners and the broader business community.”
As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com