WASHINGTON–The National Retail Federation has come out against employer-mandated health insurance and has directly criticized Walmart for supporting this provision.
In an open letter to NRF members, Tracy Mullin, the trade group’s president and chief executive officer, said employer-mandated coverage “would be catastrophic for our industry,” raising retailers’ costs and eventually forcing them to reduce their payrolls and raise their prices. Mullin said the retail industry was “astonished” when Walmart sent a letter to President Barack Obama two weeks ago, which supported government mandates on businesses.
“Although the move may provide a short-term public-relations boost to Walmart, it could have long-lasting, devastating consequences to retailers throughout the country,” Mullin said.
Mullin said NRF’s Health Care Task Force is working to come up with “real solutions” to the health-care crisis that would encourage competition on cost and quality. She also noted that Walmart is not a member of NRF “and, after this dispute, I’m not expecting a dues check from them anytime soon.”