Workers Are Now Focusing on Retirement Benefits Over Healthcare Plans

A Willis Towers Watson study published by Globe Newswire says U.S. employees are more focused on retirement benefits than on healthcare benefits, with 66 percent of nearly 5,000 surveyed employees willing to have more taken from their paychecks every month to support improved retirement benefits, reports the Washington Post . Just 38 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay more each month for better healthcare benefits. "Employees, who continue to see their healthcare costs increase annually, are basically saying 'enough is enough' as far fewer are willing to pay more each month for more generous health benefits and more predictable costs," says a Willis Towers Watson economist. The poll appears to imply that most employers are providing decent health and retirement plans at a reasonable cost for workers, with 66 percent of respondents saying their health plan meets their needs, and 59 percent said the same about their retirement plans. Still, if offered a choice, most employees would rather cede more of their salary for a better retirement plan than healthcare benefits. Employers aware of this trend can better customize their benefit packages to draw and retain good workers. More than 50 percent of polled employees who believe they have good benefits were found to be "highly engaged" in their jobs.