The American Society of Employers (ASE), a not-for-profit trade organization in Livonia, today released the organization’s 2017-18 Policies and Benefits Survey results. The report contains both national and Michigan data on human resource policies and employee benefit offerings.
“Employers are increasingly challenged with developing workplaces that effectively attract, retain, and motivate the best talent,” says Mary E. Corrado, president and CEO of ASE. “This resource is one of the more comprehensive tools available for employers to ensure that their benefits, practices, and policies are relevant in today’s market.”
The survey reports information from 1,595 organizations in the U.S. and 166 organizations in Michigan. Each organization answered 333 questions regarding human resource policies and employee benefits. More than half of the organizations surveyed had 500 or fewer employees.
Key findings of the survey include:
- Almost 40 percent (nationally – 38 percent, Michigan – 37 percent) of respondents attach a wellness incentive to their medical plan with approximately two thirds (nationally – 66 percent, Michigan – 67 percent) offering a reduction in employee premiums as an incentive.
- Domestic partner benefits continue to increase in popularity. Participants currently offering benefits increased to approximately 41 percent nationally compared to 31 percent in Michigan, which is up from 38 percent and 26 percent respectively in the 2015-2016 survey.
- 96 percent of national respondents offer life insurance with approximately 95 percent paying the full premium amount. In Michigan, nearly 99 percent of respondents offer life insurance with approximately 94 percent paying the full premium amount.
- About 83 percent of national respondents provide short-term disability insurance, which is a slight increase to what was reported in the 2015-2016 survey. Similar to the 2015-2016 survey, 92 percent of Michigan respondents provide short-term disability insurance.
- The average number of paid sick/personal days is 7.4 nationally and 7.0 Michigan, which is similar to the 2015-2016 amount reported.
- Nationally organizations providing an iPad/tablet for employee use significantly increased to 33 percent – up from 27 percent in 2015-16. However, iPad/tablet for employee use provided by Michigan employers dropped significantly to 16 percent – down from 28 percent in 2015-16.
- Both across the nation and in Michigan, 74 percent of organizations have blocking mechanisms for restricted internet sites. Instant messaging is on the rise and is now allowed in 50 percent of organizations nationally and nearly 60 percent of Michigan organizations, while personal use of the internet and email use during work hours is allowed by more than 55 percent (nationally 59 percent, Michigan 55 percent) for office employees. Access to social media sites during work hours is also increasing and is now allowed in around 50 percent (nationally 47 percent, Michigan 54 percent) of organizations. More than 50 percent (nationally 53 percent, Michigan 51 percent) monitor internet and email usage which is a decrease over the prior survey.
Additional data on health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, pay practices, working conditions, paid time off, recruitment practices, and employee relations is available in the full survey, which is available for purchase through Kevin Marrs, vice president of ASE. Marrs can be contacted at (248) 223-8025 or kmarrs@aseonline.org.
