Correct, one word answer: Obamacare.
Unlikely, unless there are a large number of sub-30 hour part timers in shop, and the company is very small. Obamacare impacts any company with more than 50 full-time equivalent workers, which it considers 30 hours or more.
Since this is a factory, it sounds like a 2.5 hour buffer between paying the hourly rate and time and half.
Probably not as HCR mandates that workers who work an average of 30 hours per week must be eligible for "affordable" healthcare coverage.
Sixth response is Correct.
FReePers know it ALL!