Daily business briefing: Health reform brings no coverage, fewer hours for some

While many businesses are scaling back work hours to keep part-timers out of the company insurance plan, others are not hiring so as not to cross the 50-employee definition for large employers -- the federal threshold for having to insure full-time employees. Still other businesses are mulling the option of scotching company health coverage altogether and paying a federal fine instead. For more information, go to http://www.bnd.com/business. ...

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Companies are hiring again and putting a priority on keeping the workers they have. According to a study by Harris Interactive, of the 154 companies surveyed last month, 58 percent reported they added or plan to add workers this year and 8 percent expect to cut staff. At the same time, a third of all employees plan to look for new jobs this year. To learn more, go to http://www.bnd.com/business. ...

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The world's commercial airline fleet will more than double by the end of 2032, according to a Boeing Co. forecast. The St. Louis Business journal reports that demand is driving for more than 35,000 new airplanes valued at $4.8 trillion. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis. ...

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The nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers is advising homeowners to use discretion when deciding which home improvement projects to take on. The Appraisal Institute says that not all renovations positively impact property values. According to Remodeling magazine's most recent Cost vs. Value report, some of the projects with the highest expected return on investment are siding replacement, entry door replacement, attic bedroom addition, minor kitchen remodeling and garage door replacement. Other renovations with high expected payoffs include basement remodeling, deck addition and window replacement. To find out more, go to http://www.appraisalinstitute.org.

-- Will Buss, BND business writer

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Daily business briefing: Health reform brings no coverage, fewer hours for some