What is it employers hope to accomplish most with their benefit plans this year?
- 39% said retaining employees
- 25% want to motivate existing employees
- 19% said attract new talent, and
- 17% want to reward existing employees.
Those figures come from the HR consultancy Employers Group, which recently conducted its 2011 National Workplace Benefits Survey. It polled more than 400 employers to determine the current state of employee benefits.
It shows which benefits are most popular among employers today — and can help you benchmark your own plan.
Of course, it’s no surprise that health insurance and retirement benefits top the list, but there may be a few surprises as you work your way to the bottom.
Today’s most popular benefits
Offered by >95% of companies:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- 401(k) or other retirement plan
Offered by >90%:
- Life insurance
- Prescription drug coverage
- Vision coverage
Offered by >70%:
- Employee assistance programs
- Counseling programs
Offered by >60%:
- Mobile phones/PDAs
- Discount tickets for movie theaters and amusement parks
Offered by >40%:
- Education supplements (Note: This doesn’t just include higher-ed courses but things like industry seminars and conferences.)
Don’t expect those stats to change much in the near future. Nearly 70% of the employers surveyed said they do not plan to make any cuts to benefits in the coming year.
