Benefits February 13, 2007

Health Benefits for WA State Workers Drops Slightly in 2006

February 13, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The number of state of Washington employers offering health care to their full-time employees fell by a slight 0.7% in 2006, but was in some cases offset by higher wages, according to a recent survey.

Reported by

The dip from 67.1% in 2005 to 66.4% in 2006 was the second year in a row a decline was reported, following the 2004 figure of 67.8%, according to a statement released Monday about the survey of 8,386 employers.by the Washington Department of Employment Security.

The number of employers offering health benefits to their part-time workers also dropped from 15.1% in 2004 and 2005 to 14.2% in 2006. The number of employers offering these employee benefits was higher among higher salary industries.

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Other findings of the survey include:

  • 42% of employers offered a retirement plan to full-time employees, while 25% offered that benefit to part-time employees.
  • 74% of employers gave full-time employees paid vacation, 26% offered that benefit to part-time workers;
  • 71% of employers gave paid holiday leave to full-time workers, 29% offered that benefit to part-time workers;
  • 54% of employers offered health insurance to the dependents of full-time employees, 12% offered that benefit to the dependents of part-time employees; and
  • 46% of employers offered paid sick leave to full-time employees, while 18% offered that benefit to part-time employees.

The full results of the 2006 Washington State Employee Benefits Report arehere .

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