Labor and Health Care
The convenience store industry employs nearly 1.727 million Americans, and labor and health-care costs are the largest expense category for the industry. In 2008, labor costs — including wages, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, health insurance and other benefits — were 31.6 percent of gross margin dollars. NACS continues to be dedicated to working with congressional leaders on labor and health care issues so retailers can control their costs and not have to make the choice between offering benefits and hiring new employees.

• Unionization and Card Check
  Legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress that would deny American workers their rights to a fair election when determining whether those employees want union representation. This legislation would replace secret ballot elections with "card check" elections. NACS opposes this legislation.
• Mandatory Paid Leave
  Congress is looking at proposals that would require employers to provide employees with up to 56 hours of “paid sick time” (paid time off/leave) each year.

• Health-Care Reform
  President Obama and leaders in the House and Senate have vowed to enact comprehensive health-care reform. Uninsured and underinsured Americans are the focus of most policy proposals. Health care expenditures in 2006 totaled $2.1 trillion and that number is expected to double by 2017.