Benefits August 11, 2011

Museum Employee Given Permanent Potty Break

August 11, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A famed Austrian museum has fired an employee for washing his hands and face with his urine.
Reported by

The Associated Press reports that Alfred Zoppelt says he was fired after 23 years of working as an attendant at the Belvedere, a castle in Vienna with a major art collection. He says his adherence to urine therapy was previously “never a problem.”  

The AP said the notice from Belvedere stated “you regularly rub urine into your skin, particularly the face and hands. With this, you soil your place of work … and threaten the health of your co-workers.”  

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A woman answering the Belvedere press department phone confirmed that Zoppelt was fired but did not give further information.  

According to the news report, believers in urine therapy claim medical and cosmetic benefits but these have not been proven.
Benefits August 11, 2011

Workers Cut Back Retirement Savings to Make Ends Meet

August 11, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Some workers are making ends meet by foregoing long-term savings, according to a new CareerBuilder survey.
Reported by

More than one-in-five (21%) workers say they have reduced their 401(k) contributions and/or personal savings in the last year to get by.  Others aren’t contributing to long-term savings at all, as one-third (34%) state that they do not participate in any programs such as 401(k), IRAs or retirement plans.   

Nearly two-in-ten workers making six figures have reduced their contributions to savings and 401(k) programs each month (17%), and 9% don’t participate in a 401(k) program or other personal savings plan.  

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CareerBuilder’s survey shows the financial situation for some households is improving. Forty-two percent of workers say they usually or always live paycheck to paycheck, an improvement from 43% in 2010 and in line with levels seen back in 2007. The number of workers who have missed a bill payment has decreased year-over-year; one-in-five (20%) say they have missed payments on bills in the last year, slightly improved from 22% at this time last year.   

Workers making six figures are seeing improvements as well.  Fourteen percent of workers making six figures say they live paycheck to paycheck, down from 17% in 2010. Less than one-in-ten (6%) reported they can’t make ends meet every month, an improvement from 8% last year.  

Female workers continue to struggle more with their personal finances than their male counterparts. Forty-six percent of female workers and 38% of male workers say they live paycheck to paycheck. Nearly one quarter (24%) of female workers say they have missed a bill payment over the last 12 months, higher than male workers at 17%.    

While being fiscally responsible may mean having to do without, workers said they would absolutely not give up the following regardless of their financial concerns: 

  • Internet connection – 56%, 
  • Driving – 46%, 
  • Mobile phone – 42%, 
  • Cable TV – 27%, and  
  • Going out to eat – 11%. 

 

The nationwide survey of more than 5,200 workers by CareerBuilder was conducted from May 18 to June 3, 2011.

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