chain stores with health insurance for part time workers

[Anonymous]

A childhood friend of mine who is a heavy fb poster left/lost (not really sure) her job a year ago to freelance as a graphic designer. I hired her for a small job, and she did a great job and we've stayed in touch.

She has really struggled freelancing and just posted on fb that she's broke, in debt, without health insurance, and unable to purchase her anti-depressants and thyroid meds. She's a bit of an oversharer on FB but has great boundaries in person, does great work, and has had some hard knocks that she's rebounded from in life (loss of a spouse, health issues). I don't think she's one of those people where there will always be something wrong--her fb posts in past years have had lots of happy moments (i.e. she's not a whiner and not someone chronically unemployed, etc).

I want to help her somehow but we don't have the budget to send any more work her way. I'm also in a creative and freelance field and I want to suggest that she "moonlight" at a big box store to have a steady income and health insurance.

Any ideas of places to suggest? She's in MD in a small town, but there's a Target (and i know quite a few artists who work part time at target for the insurance), JCPenneys, Kohls--the big mid-range chains. Does anyone know of companies that are good to employees? I know Home Depot and Costco and Lucky have good reputations but their town doesn't have those stores. I don't think she would work around food, but she'd be great in retail.

Also, can a single adult get medicaid? I guess that may be a question for health/medical. I tried googling it for MD, but looks like you have to have a kid or be disabled.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I think Costco is known for paying employees a fair wage and may offer benefits. Ditto Starbucks.

[Anonymous]

Wegmans maybe.

[Anonymous]

Health care reform is going to work for her. Make sure she gets informed about Maryland Health Connection so she can enroll Oct 1. The rules are changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health care reform is going to work for her. Make sure she gets informed about Maryland Health Connection so she can enroll Oct 1. The rules are changing.

Thanks for the ideas. This link is super helpful, I've sent it to her.

[Anonymous]

To get her Rx she should go to www.pparx.org to find out about programs to get free/reduced cost drugs

[Anonymous]

I know you said no food, but I advised a friend who was getting back on her feet in her mid-30's after a VERY rough patch to try Starbucks. She stayed 2 1/2 years, got a lot of necessary dental work done, had an on-the-job injury (relatively minor but requiring medical attention) covered by insurance. They were very good to her, and she stayed until she was able to get a "career" job.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Starbucks.

[Anonymous]

Ikea

[Anonymous]

Ups

[Anonymous]

I think Starbucks employees get benefits at 20hrs/week. I don't know if that's still true so verify.

[Anonymous]

The article doesn't talk specifically about health insurance but maybe your friend can check out Amazon since they are adding 7k new workers.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/29/news/companies/amazon-hiring/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Anonymous]

Container Store.

[Anonymous]

Just note that some of the companies (I believe Starbucks, at least they did when I worked there in college) has a wait period for part time benefits, so you won't get them right away, but once you qualify, you can maintain them with a part time schedule.

[Anonymous]

This thread is awesome.