In the eyes of employers provide health and welfare benefits is a weapon to attract and retain talented employees, particularly in emerging countries. This is what shows the 2008 survey firm Mercer, conducted with 842 employers in 24 European countries and published exclusively in "Les echos". The phenomenon is in Eastern Europe. In these basins of employment, private actors now face double competition from other international groups and local businesses in recruiting. In Romania or in Poland, but also in France, the Portugal, in Russia and Turkey, more than 80 of the polled believe that they would be "of evil to retain their key profiles if they were not all of the benefits they currently propose", provides the investigation.
Health and welfare plans vary depending on the crops, local legislation, the scope of collective agreements and the social funds. The most common benefit is compensation in case of illness (71). Dental payments, however, being offered by 37 of respondents. To add benefits ranging from health in the workplace (54) controls to dietary advice to improve the well-being of the teams (14).
Side employees, health services are cited "among the most appreciated advantages", especially "in the countries where public health systems can be seen as unsatisfactory," concluded the study.
Requests for care
The trend should continue. On the old Continent, the workforce does not refreshes. By 2050, the average age of the Europeans should be 39 to 49 years, leading to a procession of requests for additional care. In addition, diseases, formerly fatal, such as cancer or heart disease, become chronic. Moreover, the sophisticated technology that accompanies the scientific advances pay dearly. With increasing costs, the Hungary to the Italy, passing through the France or the United Kingdom, reforms of social security are multiplying. Consequence for employers: budgets linked to health benefits go wrong. "In all countries, there is a drift," provides Yanick Philippon, responsible for health and welfare of Mercer in France activity. According to the study, European companies have spent, on average, 5.3 per cent of salary costs for the benefit of health in 2007... A figure that rises to 15.4 in the US, at 5.6 in France and 2.2 in Czech Republic. However, between 2007 and 2008, the average cost of employee health benefits increased by 5 in Europe. What concern companies. If the abuses persist, 41 of them declare that they will not change. But the majority intends to take measures: 38 are considering limiting the number of people with access to coverage, 34 think pass some costs to their employees and 30 are planning to reduce the scope of the proposed guarantees. Some are creative. Italian companies, for example, assess the introduction of a flexible benefits plan.
According the study, the average number of days of absence per year and per employee in Europe amounted to 7.4 days (against 5.1 days across the Atlantic). In 73 of cases, absenteeism is linked to short and frequent absences. But among the three leading causes of long-term absence, musculo-skeletal disorders, the problems of stress and headaches related to cancer are at the top.
And over time they would be more numerousA figure which germinates the threat of social unrestwhich can boast the group chaired by Michèle Ferrebeuf1 decline in turnover of the sector to 4It applauded the international business experience of Jan du PlessisAt most they suffered a slight stroke of green paintThis is however as a part of the explanationAs such it provides the interface with suppliersEurope deserves better than such horsetradingThese developments are highly confidential
