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National Longitudinal Survey of Mature and Young Women (NLSW)

Fringe Benefits

Mature Women cohort

Important information: Mature Women

  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.
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 Mature Women 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 & Documentation 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.

Young Women cohort

Important information: Young Women

  1. The universe for the fringe benefit series is restricted to those respondents who had 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 originally coded as geometric progressions. Program statements to unpack such variables are presented in Appendix C. Beginning in 1993, each type of benefit is reported in a separate variable with a yes or no response. With this new format, geometric progressions are no longer used.

This section reviews the fringe benefit data collected for the Young 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 1978 and 1983-2003. At each survey point, information was gathered about the following fringe benefits: (1) medical, surgical, hospital, and dental insurance (as well as vision insurance in some surveys); (2) life insurance; (3) a retirement pension program; (4) paid sick leave; (5) paid vacation; (6) training/educational opportunities; and (7) profit sharing. In addition, select surveys collected data on the availability of free/discounted meals or merchandise, paid and unpaid maternity leave, stock options, flexible work hours, child care, paid personal time, time off for child care, time off for elder care, or a flexible menu of benefits. Table YW1 below summarizes by survey year the numbers of employed respondents reporting the availability of each type of fringe benefit.

In 1987, additional items asked respondents to rank their most important and most desired fringe benefits. In 1991, the collection of fringe benefit data was broadened to include data on actual coverage by a health or retirement plan provided by the respondent's employer. Information on specific types of health insurance coverage (e.g., medical/surgical/hospital care, dental services, vision care, or prescription drugs) was collected, as were data on whether those respondents covered by a pension plan were vested. These pension data are discussed in the Pension Benefits & Pension Plans section of this guide.

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Table YW1. Numbers of employed respondents reporting the availability
of various types of fringe benefits at their current job
Reporting Availability1 1978 1983 1985 1987 1988 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 20012 2003
One or More Benefits 1763 2089 2439 2445 2336 2364 2161 1724 1679 1586 1285 1339
No Benefits 232 284   283 272 318 316 356 359 318 235 267
Type of Benefit Medical/Surgical/
Hospital/Dental/
Vision Insurance		 1523 1634 1911 2010 1895 1937 1796          
Medical Insurance               1615 1593 1495 1217 1282
Dental Insurance               1264 1271 1226 1046 1087
Life Insurance 1087 1349 1636 1729 1576 1588 1505 1399 1362 1284 1049 1105
Retirement Pension Program 1091 1295 1547 1654 1532 1634 1583 1453 1446 1343 1124 1187
Training/Education Opportunities 801 1038 1418 1537 1306 1337 1276 1122 1118 1004 797 847
Profit Sharing 327 430 570 634 504 519 482 450 408 367 295 289
Stock Options 284 362 457 487 401 411 396   360 344 291 265
Free or Discounted Meals 287 224 431 482 395 385 349          
Free or Discounted Merchandise 400 436 645 712 501 459 401          
Paid Sick Leave 1356 1575 1833 1891 1743 1772 1694 13543 13333 12263 9983 10683
Paid Vacation Leave 1501 1683 1949 2001 1869 1922 1761 13693 13053 12173 9533 10033
Paid Maternity Leave 480 827 1158 1110 918 923 869 1391 1368 1217 996 1063
Unpaid Maternity Leave 561 493 1165 1144 617 609 653          
Flexible Work Hours   717 1131 1199 899 955 855 732 773 740 611 611
Child Day Care   62 113 137 101 136 142 144 155 138 108 121
Paid Personal Time       1136 874 1059 937          
Time off for Child Care       576 316 371 484          
Time off for Elder Care           235 403          
Flexible Menu of Benefits           529 584          
Other   207 378 412 380 233 240          
Universe: Respondents who were working, at the survey date, in a private company or as a government worker.
For 1978-95, this table is based on R06026.00, R08115.00, R09541.00, R10700.00, R11179.00, R12421.00-R12440.00, R13764.00-R13783.00, and R2007400.-R20262.00. For 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003, numbers are derived from the currently employed flag for each job (e.g., R44404.00) 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 Young Women 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.

Reference

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Work & Family: Changes in Wages and Benefits among Young Adults. Report No. 849. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, July 1993.

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