January 13th 2024.
JenChan's, a cozy family-owned restaurant nestled in the charming neighborhood of Cabbagetown in Atlanta, has recently found itself in the midst of a heated debate. The cause? A 4% health insurance fee that has been added to the customers' bills to support the restaurant's full-time employees. This bold move has sparked controversy and caught the attention of media outlets, with WSFA12 reporting on the restaurant's unique approach to addressing the rising premiums faced by its employees.
The visionary behind this initiative is none other than the restaurant's owner, Emily Chan. Emily introduced the health insurance fee over a year ago, with the aim of taking care of her employees. In an interview, she explained, "We still have an employee that got turned down from health insurance this year. We have three different carriers for our small team, and we just felt like if we put it as a line item, then it would highlight that there's an issue here and we need to pay attention to it." It's clear that Emily's intentions are noble, as she is determined to provide her employees with the much-needed access to healthcare.
However, despite the good intentions, JenChan's has faced backlash from some customers who are not happy with the extra charge on their bills. One such incident involved a customer who, after enjoying a peaceful dining experience, vented online threats against Emily, her husband Jen, and their child. In defense of the restaurant's initiative, lead bartender Sam Hammer shared that the owners are committed to taking care of their employees by including the health insurance charge for all full-time staff.
Emily remains steadfast in her commitment to this cause, seeing it as a way to shed light on what she terms a "health insurance crisis." She hopes that by including the fee as a line item on the bill, it will spark conversations about the challenges faced by the restaurant industry in providing affordable healthcare for its workers. "I want people to talk about this. That's why we have it as a line item, is because I feel like it's worth a conversation. There's an issue," Emily clarified.
Despite the criticism and backlash, Emily is heartened by the overwhelming support from the local community. She has received numerous positive comments from customers who commend the restaurant for taking care of its employees. Emily shared, "It's been pretty awesome, and we've been really busy this weekend, just people saying, 'Hey, I hear what you're doing for your employees. I work in the restaurant industry, and we never had health insurance.'" This positive response from the community has only strengthened Emily's resolve to maintain the health insurance fee, with no plans for change unless the broader issue is addressed by Congress.
While some individuals outside their community have expressed criticism, Emily and Sam emphasize the overwhelming support from locals in Cabbagetown. Their commitment to shining a light on the health insurance issue remains unshakable, with the hope of bringing attention to the challenges faced by restaurant industry workers in accessing affordable healthcare. The restaurant's dedication to this cause has even caught the attention of prominent figures, such as Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, and Jelly Roll, who have joined forces with 'Power To The Patients' for a healthcare pricing transparency event. JenChan's may have stirred controversy, but it has also sparked important conversations and highlighted the need for change within the industry.
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