Survey: Employers cutting benefit costs - Dayton Business Journal:

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“The responses indicate that as employers develol benefit plans for 2010 they are looking for ways to reducebenefiyt costs, without further reducing benefits,” said Marianne executive director of the association. “Surprisingly, many responde that they plan to increase theidrwellness programs.” • Thirty-five percent of employerse responded that they plan to increase their wellness programs. Companies identified as its two biggest concerns limitedbenefits budgets, and limited merit budget and bonus About 68% of companies are concerned or very concernesd about limited merit budget and bonus and about 53% are concerned aboug limited benefits budgets.
• To weathe the economic downturn, almost half of respondents are auditinf or planning to audittheir employees’ dependentr eligibility in order to reduc e the number of individuals covered. And 41% plan to increase employeed costs ofbenefit plans, while more than one-thirdf have reduced or are planning to reduce • About 89% of employers believe that workerws will respond to the economic downturn by delayinv retirement. Also, 83% of employers say thei r workers are concerned aboutjob security, and 42% think thei employees have been impacted by low morale. The surveg was submitted to the association's employer members and facilitated byin Houston.
The association'd 900-plus members represent a broad cross-section of benefit s professionalsin Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana. Arkansas, Missouriu and Kansas, but are not limiterd to those states.