Employees, Bosses Not on Same Benefits Page

They survey by Delta Dental of Missouri found that only one in 10 employees felt involved in the benefit design and selection process, although nearly half of employers said their employees participated. Not only that, more than half (51%) of employees said their biggest concern was having enough money for retirement, while the same number of employers said they thought their employees’ biggest concern was making ends meet between paychecks.

Other discrepancies involved pension plans and overall satisfaction. A third of employers without a pension plan said they thought it was a priority for employees, while nearly three quarters (74%) of employees without a pension plan said getting one was high on their list. Nearly six in 10 employers said they were “very satisfied” with the benefits they offered, whereas only 28% of employees shared that joy. The reason: Nearly three-fourths of employees said they didn’t care for high co-pays and deductibles.

“This information on how employees and employers view their benefits environment and on shared goals and discrepancies between employer and employee benefit goals will provide a valuable framework for HR decision-makers and benefits consultants as they plan their benefits futures,” said Angie Rightnowar, director of corporate communications for Delta Dental, in a statement.

The survey involved more than 1,100 full-time employees from Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas and 159 human resources or benefits departments from Missouri companies.