Employers, including golf courses, across the country continue to be confused about their obligations to their seasonal employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law is based on two different definitions of “seasonal” staff that must be used to determine when a business falls under the law and which employees must be offered health insurance.

For the past two years, GCSAA helped push for passage of the STARS Act -- a bill that never made it past the finish line. The STARS Act would provide one clear definition of a seasonal staffer in the ACA law and implementing regulations. This would ensure that employers have the tools and understanding necessary to comply with the ACA.

The bill would define a “seasonal worker” as one who is employed on a seasonal basis for six months or less during a calendar year. It does not repeal or defund any provisions of the ACA.

On July 31, GCSAA signed onto a letter to U.S. Treasurer Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting that the Treasury Department addresses the confusing and conflicting definition of seasonal worker.

Like any other employers, golf businesses want to do well by their employees. GCSAA wants to continue to work with the Trump administration to support the promulgation of reasonable and clear labor regulations to help keep the golf industry strong.