STUDY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: 2006 & BEYOND - Prudential

The Progressives
Progressive Employers Come in All Sizes
Interestingly, every employer segment by company size has a substantial share of
both progressives and forward-thinkers.
Employers with 5,000-9,999 employees comprise the largest share of progressives
at 34%. Companies in this segment might have achieved the financial ability to offer
stronger benefits, but likely also feel advanced benefits programs are key to attracting
and retaining talent as they seek to reach the next level.
The largest employers (10,000+) are solidly positioned as forward-thinkers. Their
resources, success, brand names, and other factors are strong tools for attracting
and retaining talent. Yet, most are unwilling to allow their competition to surpass
them in terms of benefits offerings.
Forward-thinkers is the largest segment of employers in the broad mid-size (and
emerging large) market of 500-5,000 employees. As these firms gain success and
increase the ranks of longer-term employees in whom they’ve invested, benefits
become an important tool.
Employers with less than 1,000 employees have a healthy distribution of progressives
and forward-thinkers. Given their size and other priorities, some firms’ “status quo”
approach to benefits is not surprising. Even so, smaller companies tend to watch
market trends closely and adjust when necessary.
PROGRESSIVE EMPLOYERS BY COMPANY SIZE
9%
14%
19%
13%
15%
14%
19%
21%
20%
14%
21%
14%
23%
23%
14%
22%
28%
24%
33%
34%
30%
29%
34%
39%
42%
46%
45%
41%
30
50-99
100–499
500–999
1,000–1,999 2,000–4,999 5,000–9,999
10,000+
Progressives Forward-Thinkers Followers Status Quo