'Don't Show Us the Money-Show Us Healthcare Benefits,' Workers Say

When choosing jobs, Americans want healthcare benefits more than anything, a recent survey finds.

By Kristina Cowan

U.S. workers are putting money in its place-and it isn't first. According to a survey on what Americans want in a job, health insurance plans rank first, while compensation comes in 10th.

Next up after health insurance plans are job security, an environment with clear policies/procedures, retirement/pension plans, and a flexible, family-friendly workplace, says the survey for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence.

Elizabeth Kellar, executive director for the Washington-based center, says what the survey likely reflects "is that increasingly employers are not offering health-insurance benefits that are very good, or health-insurance benefits at all, so it's much more on people's minds when they're looking for a job."

Experts and employees offer differing opinions about the survey's findings, with some agreeing and others remaining skeptical.

Are Health Insurance Plans All the Rage?

While compensation is important, some experts say nowadays workers have different priorities.

Melanie Holmes, vice president of World of Work Solutions for Manpower in Milwaukee, Wis., says she's not surprised health insurance plans rank first in the survey, given the abundant media coverage of the nation's troubled health-care system.

She also agrees with the emphasis on job security and flexibility. "The perception out there is that the economy is soft. So people might understandably have anxiety about losing their jobs," she explains. "Work-life balance is becoming more important to older workers, and younger kids coming into work want work-life balance and want time for themselves, to give back to the community. It cuts across all age demographics."

Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of Beyond.com, a niche-specific career network, says he thinks money is less important than it used to be, especially for younger workers.

"I believe the kids coming out of college today are a different breed. They're not so set on a huge career track that's going to lead them to financial gain as much as their parents or my parents would have been. So there's good and bad to that," Milgram says. "But the fact is money is playing less of a factor. Quality of life is playing more of a factor these days, and I believe that's terrific. Companies need to realize that fact and start treating employees accordingly."

Ryan Healy, who recently graduated from Penn State University, says he ranks salary approximately fifth in importance. "I put ahead of it company culture, people you'll be interacting with, the amount of personal growth the job allows for, the amount of responsibility you're allowed to take," notes Healy, 23. "And this is assuming it's an adequate salary-you're not going to take a job that doesn't pay your bills."

Last fall Healy left his job as a financial consultant for IBM Global Business Services to work as part of the small team behind BrazenCareerist.com, a new online career center for young professionals.

But Money Does Matter!

Some are more skeptical of the survey's findings.

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, a Massachusetts-based human resources expert, says money still matters a lot, and recruiters tell her money plays a critical part in the hiring process.

"People have to feel like they're being recognized and rewarded, and compensation is a part of that. If people want to say money doesn't really matter, then they're living in a dream," she says.

M

ary Froehlich, a senior property manager at Sydney Associates, a real-estate firm in Brookline, Mass., shares a similar sentiment.

"It's interesting that compensation was number 10, because that's never been my mindset, and I still, even in younger workers, am not finding that," Froehlich says. "In 25 years of managing people, I have never come across that people don't want to make money, and I think that today you need to make money."

Ultimately, the survey raises important points for employers, Kellar says."Even during economic downturns, there is still going to be competition for talent. It's important for employers to be aware of what they need in terms of benefits if they want to compete for the talent," she notes.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues.

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Fit Fitness into Your Workday

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer



For those of us who spend long days at our workstations, sitting nearly motionless under fluorescent lights, fitness can seem like a pipe dream. How do you squeeze substantial physical activity into a job that squeezes most of the air out of your day?

Katie Hamlin, a senior account executive at public relations firm Edelman, puts her finger on it: “It’s hard to stay in shape when you work 9 to 5, especially when no one really gets out of work at 5.”

But even for cynics who believe at-the-office exercise is nothing more than a comedic routine involving finger calisthenics and laps around the conference table, there is hope. You can find times and ways to exercise at work, as long as you’re willing to think creatively about your situation, occasionally push the envelope of workplace decorum and perhaps even chuckle at yourself.

Start with Modest Changes to Your Routine
You may have heard the standard advice for workers looking to fit some fitness into their days: Park your car at the farthest corner of the lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Use the phone and email less, and walk to talk with your coworkers instead.

If you are among the most sedentary of the sedentary, these measures will begin to get your blood moving, but they’re really just a start. “Nothing can replace solid, intense workouts,” says Salvatore Fichera, an exercise physiologist. “But being as active as possible all through the workday does make a difference over time.”

Fichera recommends brisk exercise breaks of about 10 minutes. That should be enough time to give yourself a significant interval of cardiovascular exercise without taking up more time than a typical coffee break.

Fit in a Couple of 10-Minute Workouts

“If you take a break and climb the stairs for 10 minutes, you’ll burn 150 calories, assuming you weigh 150 pounds,” says Tammy Lakatos, a trainer and registered dietitian. Within that timeframe, you should be able to rev your metabolism without getting too sweaty, she says.

Will a 10-minute workout attract the wrong kind of attention from coworkers and bosses? If it does, you can try explaining why you’re doing it, or just keep at it and ignore negative reactions, which will likely fade with time.

Trainer Susie Shina recommends these intense exercises designed specifically for the white-collar environment: Wall presses (like push-ups, only against a wall), stand-ups (squats into your desk chair), march in place (try not to notice who’s staring) and knee-ups (in your chair, bring your knees up).

Sit for Fitness

Here’s another idea mentioned by more than one fitness expert: Replace your desk chair with a big exercise ball. “When I was a software developer, I brought one of those balance balls to my office and stopped using my desk chair,” says Jeff Wooten, president of The Body Mechanic. “It almost forced me to exercise while I worked.”

Being the first in his office to go chairless earned Wooten quite a few looks and comments. But Wooten and his exercise ball became trendsetters -- and saved money for his employer, which was accustomed to shelling out hundreds of dollars for ergonomic chairs. Balance balls sell for as little as $20.

Leave the Office to Work OutStill, we’ve got to admit that doing push-ups against a wall -- let alone a cubicle partition -- may be just too much. “Some of these activities could be difficult in some work environments,” says Scott Lucett, director of education at the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

The solution may be to take one longer, off-site exercise break. Does your company claim to give its employees a substantial lunchtime, like half or three-quarters of an hour, or even 60 minutes? Then test that claim, even if none of your coworkers do. When Hamlin was training for the New York City Marathon, she would sometimes take off for lunch, go to the gym a block from work, run three miles, shower and be back at her desk within an hour.

Finally, remember that when it comes to exercise, you have more at stake than a desire for a slimmer waistline or less generous hips. “Having a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk for coronary heart disease,” says Dr. Aliya Browne, clinical director of the Hainesport Women’s Heart Center.careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy