WASS Events

WASS Wednesdays 2026

FREE for WASS Members. Registration is required.

Join us for our monthly virtual roundtable discussion for staffing industry professionals.  WASS hosts these timely Zoom discussions the third Wednesday of every month.

Our next WASS Wednesday Coffee Chat is: 

August 19, 2026

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Part I: ESRPs, FTEs & ALEs… Oh My!

Demystifying ACA Compliance for Staffing Firms

This is the first session in a practical three-part series designed to help staffing firms understand, manage, and confidently navigate ACA compliance.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be overwhelming—especially for independent and growing staffing firms. Whether you’re a startup, an established agency, or approaching Applicable Large Employer (ALE) status, understanding your responsibilities now can help you avoid costly mistakes later.

In this introductory session, we’ll break down the ACA in plain English and walk through the concepts every staffing leader should know, including:

• The difference between a Full-Time Employee (FTE) and a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)—and why it matters.
• How to calculate hours of service to determine whether the ACA applies to your business.
• When your company becomes an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) and what that means for compliance.
• The two Employer Shared Responsibility Penalties (ESRPs) and how they differ.
• Practical strategies to help minimize risk, manage healthcare costs, and factor ACA compliance into your bill rates.
• Why your staffing firm’s geographic footprint may influence your ACA exposure.

We’ll also work through real-world calculation examples and explain how the IRS expects employers to determine eligibility and maintain compliance.

Whether you’re just beginning to navigate the ACA or want to ensure your company is on the right track, this session will provide a solid foundation and prepare you for the next two webinars in the series.

If ACA terminology has ever left you scratching your head, this is the place to start.

Upon registering for the session, you’ll receive a confirmation email with an attached “ticket” that includes the Zoom log-in details