Fringe Benefits
![](https://www.nlsinfo.org/sites/default/files/icons/employment-small.png)
Employment
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.