Fringe Benefits

Fringe Benefits

Mature Women Fringe Benefits Variables

User Notes

1. The universe for the fringe benefit series is restricted to those respondents who have worked since the last interview and who were employed in a private business or as government workers.

2. Multiple entry "mark all that apply" questions typically found in the fringe benefit sections were coded as geometric progressions through 1989. Program statements to unpack such variables are presented in Appendix C. Beginning in 1992, each type of benefit was reported in a separate variable with a yes or no response. With this new format, geometric progressions were no longer used.

This section reviews the fringe benefit data collected for the Mature Women. Additional information on other work-related benefits can be found in the Pension Benefits & Pension Plans section.

Data on the availability of fringe benefits provided by employers of respondents were collected in 1977, 1982, 1987, 1989, and 1995-2003. At each survey point, information was gathered about the following fringe benefits: (1) medical, surgical, and hospital insurance; (2) life insurance; (3) a retirement pension program; (4) paid sick leave;  (5) paid vacation;  (6) training/educational opportunities; (7) profit sharing; and (8) stock options. In addition, select surveys collected data on the availability of paid and unpaid maternity leave, flexible work hours, child day care, paid personal time, time off for child care, time off for elder care, a flexible menu of benefits, free/discounted meals or merchandise, or dental insurance. Table MW1 below summarizes by survey year the numbers of employed respondents reporting the availability of each type of fringe benefit.

Table MW1 Numbers of Employed Respondents Reporting the Availability of Various Types of Fringe Benefits at Their Current Job

Reporting Availability1 1977 1982 1987 1989 1995 1997 1999 20012 2003
One or More Benefits 1445 1703 1315 1229 356 246 166 91 84
No Benefits 313 265 246 246 238 195 175 138 114
Type of Benefit
Medical/Surgical/Hospital Insurance 1184 1304 966 875 314 216 140 77 73
Dental Insurance -- -- -- -- 205 156 86 46 55
Life Insurance 975 1049 769 710 248 179 104 50 54
Retirement Pension Program 1033 1044 796 729 262 196 127 58 56
Training/Education Opportunities 545 674 534 517 191 127 70 42 31
Profit Sharing 215 242 204 197 79 51 26 12 12
Stock Options 176 168 153 134 -- 42 22 6 8
Free or Discounted Meals 200 292 215 214 -- -- -- -- --
Free or Discounted Merchandise 240 291 211 176 -- -- -- -- --
Paid Sick Leave 1129 1230 947 816 2413 1733 1053 583 533
Paid Vacation Leave 1208 1366 1003 910 2693 1733 1133 603 503
Paid Maternity Leave -- -- -- 319 212 149 89 44 41
Unpaid Maternity Leave -- -- -- 133 -- -- -- -- --
Flexible Work Hours -- 471 420 374 142 108 74 38 40
Child Day Care -- -- -- 36 26 15 4 9 7
Paid Personal Time -- -- -- 376 -- -- -- -- --
Time off for Child Care -- -- -- 72 -- -- -- -- --
Time off for Elder Care -- -- -- 60 -- -- -- -- --
Flexible Menu of Benefits -- -- -- 143 -- -- -- -- --
Other -- 123 115 147 -- -- -- -- --
 
Universe: Respondents who were working, at the survey date, within a private company or as a government worker.
Note: For 1978-95, this table is based on R03380.00, R05369.00, R07918.00, R08978.00, and R2007400.-R20259.00. For 1997-2003, numbers are derived from the currently employed flag for each job (e.g., R44404.) and the fringe benefits series for each job (e.g., R44548.00-R44563.00).
1 The numbers will not sum to the universe total because most respondents receive more than one benefit.
2 Counts for 2001 are underestimated by about 6% due to an instrument problem. One or more jobs were incorrectly deleted from the employer roster in 2001 for 343 respondents, and information for some of their jobs is missing. Information for these jobs was collected in 2003, and 319 of the 343 respondents affected were interviewed in 2003. For a list of the 343 respondents for whom some employer information may be missing, see Appendix 42 in the Codebook Supplement.
3 A few respondents reported availability of combined sick/vacation leave, a separate category added in 1995 and not represented in this table.

Related Variables: Additional information has been collected on eligibility for and receipt of various kinds of retirement benefits and/or coverage by medical insurance. Users interested in these sets of questions should refer to the Income & Assets, Health, or Pension Benefits & Pension Plans sections.

Survey Instruments: The "Current Labor Force Status," "Current Labor Force Status and Work History," "Employment," and "Employer Supplement" sections of the questionnaires contain the questions on fringe benefits.