Company support for work/life mixed
A new survey by William M. Mercer Inc. in New York City indicates a mixed bag of support and skepticism among employers when it comes to work/life issues. For example, the average company in the survey sample has engaged in about 33 different activities intended to support work/life concerns of employees. The primary reason? To improve retention rates in a tight labor market.
Of the 400 employers participating in the survey, 55% said they do not have a formal name for their work/life efforts; 52% saw only a limited connection between work/life initiatives and business competitiveness.
Among nine categories of work/life support included in the survey, flexible work arrangements were deemed the third most valuable to employees, yet fewer than half of these companies have policies for formal flexible work arrangements, and only one-fourth have guidelines to help employees and managers use them.
Among all but the smallest employers, medical coverage is offered nearly universally. Yet despite the aging of the work force, there is surprisingly limited support for elder care, with no more than about one-quarter of respondents offering any one of four options: resources and referral (27%); long-term care insurance (17%); support of community-based adult day care (4%); on-site adult day care (1%).
The survey found these work/life initiatives to be of greatest value to employees:
Health coverage 63%Time off/leaves 58%
Flexible work arrangements 42%
Training 30%
Information and counseling 25%
Child care 20%
Financial support 7%
Convenience Services 4%
Elder care 3%
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