Event to Help Missouri Small Businesses Learn About the Healthcare Law and its LGBT-Friendly Protections
Event open to all small businesses; chance for entrepreneurs to learn about the healthcare law and its LGBT workplace non-discrimination provisions
Springfield, Mo.— ACCESS Project, Springfield Safe Spaces, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks, in conjunction with small business advocacy organization Small Business Majority, will host an event on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, to discuss the healthcare law and what its LGBT provisions mean for Missouri small businesses.
"The healthcare law provides very real protections for LGBT employees and their significant others," said Charles Abernathy, Vice President of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks. "Insurers can't offer health plans that discriminate based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. And if an employer chooses to offer coverage to domestic partners, the benefits must mirror the coverage extended to spouses. There is a lot to learn and events like these help small businesses get the information they need to comply with the healthcare law, and for us to get feedback on their thoughts and concerns."
The free event, which is open to all small business owners, will feature Small Business Majority's Missouri Health Coverage Guide, Mary Overbey, who will discuss the healthcare law and its LBGT-friendly protections, including health benefits for domestic partners and how these laws affect small businesses and their bottom lines. Overbey will also discuss cost containment provisions in the healthcare law, as well as who is eligible for the small business tax credits and how small employers can claim those tax credits.
A question and answer period will follow the discussion.
Scientific opinion polling from Small Business Majority shows more than two-thirds of entrepreneurs believe federal and state laws should prohibit employment discrimination against gay and transgender people, and that employers should not be able to fire or refuse to hire someone who is gay, lesbian or transgender based on the employer's religious beliefs. What's more, six in 10 small business owners believe laws that protect against discrimination can improve their bottom line.
"It's important for small business owners to learn more about the healthcare law and its workplace non-discrimination provisions," said Overbey. "Promoting an open and safe environment for employees makes good business sense and can help employers attract the best and brightest employees, regardless of whether an employee is gay or transgender. This helps small businesses retain quality employees and creates a happier, healthier workforce."
The event will take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, from 5:30pm - 6:30pm (CDT). It will be located at the Creative Foundry at 221 South St. in Springfield.
Small business owners can register for the event online at http://acaforlgbtfriendlysmallbusiness.eventbrite.com.
For more information, please contact Mary Overbey at [email protected] or (417) 872-9924.
About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.