Wife's boss has forced her in the past to sign a form declining insurance. He offers group insurance to the veterinarians - but does not offer this to the other employees - everyone is forced to sign and decline.

I told my wife to bring the form home so I could look it over. He told her she would be terminated if she didn't sign it today.

Do we need a lawyer?

All of my legal experience is on the Criminal side of law... but I'd say you have at least an EEOC case that should be opened.

Charlie

thats tough

Go up there and read it. Might change his tone.

Is she a full time or part time employee?

Full time W2.

You can't offer health insurance for some and not for others. It sounds like he is "offering" it to everyone and then forcing some to decline it.

That would be illegal. If you have some sort of proof that he is forcing her to sign, I would get an attorney.

I am not a lawyer, my wife is an HR professional with PHR Certification, has worked at two very large companies and this would not fly.

See if she can get some form of proof (writing or recording (if in texas) that she is being forced to decline the coverage) and I would take that to an attorney if it is something you want to pursue.

Also, if you dont want to pay for attorneys and are willing to go down that road, I am sure the EEOC would be interested in hearing about this.

Link from Texas Department of Insurance

https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb040.html

When I had a business I was told that it's all or none. Any employee can decline the insurance but you can't force them to decline.

Have her take a picture of the form and txt it to you sounds fishy

Thanks guys. That is what I figured.

I called his bluff and he has recanted, apologized, and offered insurance. Not that I ever had any intention of taking it because I'm sure it's an outrageously expensive plan. I'm just done with my wife being bullied. Doesn't sit well with me.

She probably needs to look for a new job now

It was the BCBS group plan form and they had highlighted/filled out all the stuff so she'd be declining. 1st thing she did was send it to me.

Small town, big ego. It'd hurt him more if he fired her and word got out about how he treats his employees. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

But yes, she definitely is looking for a new job long before this.

Let him fire her then sue his azz !

If he is trying this kind of carp...there is no telling what else is going on...

I think the new job advice from above is the way to go...regardless of his "recant"...

reminds me a place i worked at for about a week that had bullet holes in the building

I would keep copies of anything you now have. Also write detailed notes of everything that happened, showing dates and times and names of everyone that was present when it happened. Make it as DETAILED as you and her can.

Sounds like she is about to loose her job either way. Regardless of his illegal doings.
She don’t sign... She is terminated
She signs and sues... She is terminated

I would put some more research into this before I acted. Employers are allowed to selectively give insurance benefits as long as they don't discriminate based upon a protected class. For example, here they are trying to offer incentives to attract and retain their vets. For a smaller business, insurance is not a right.

The forcing to decline does sound a little fishy though. Sounds like they got into an insurance plan that the insurer requires all non-benefited personnel to opt out.

Sounds like he’s in need of a throat punch.

Beat his arse

If he fires her, I assume she would file for unemployment. Texas Workforce Commission would be an advocate at that point. EEOC, I would imagine, would not handle this since insurance is at the state level. Obamacare may make it federal at that point.

I am not a lawyer and hate most lawyers I know.

I'd go whip his azz