Federal workers happy with health, retirement benefits

Federal employees are overwhelmingly satisfied with their health benefits and retirement plans, according to a survey released Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management.

Acting OPM Director Dan G. Blair announced the results of the 2004 Employee Benefits Survey during a press conference in Washington. The survey, which was taken in November 2004, was designed to measure worker opinions on the "importance, adequacy, value and competitiveness of federal benefits programs," according to an OPM release.

Doris Hausser, senior policy adviser to the acting director, said the study was conducted in large part because "perception is reality." She told reporters that OPM is proud of federal benefits programs, but that matters little if "all your employees say it sucks."

According to the survey, the vast majority of federal employees are happy with their retirement and health options but less certain about some other benefits programs. Employees were asked if programs met their needs to a "great or moderate extent," a "slight extent," if the programs are "inadequate" or if the respondents did not know. The survey also allowed workers to indicate if a benefit is not available in their agency.

OPM reported that 84 percent of respondents said that the federal government's health benefits meet their needs to a great or moderate extent. More than 80 percent also said the Thrift Savings Plan-the 401(k)-style plan for federal employees-meets their needs at the same level. The survey revealed that 64 percent of workers rated their life insurance benefits at the top level, and 54 percent said that retirement health benefits meet their needs to a great or moderate extent.

The sample was sent to 2,400 employees across the government, and OPM received 850 responses.

More than 90 percent of respondents said that the retirement annuity is "very important or important" to their decision on whether to join or stay in the federal workforce. The Thrift Savings Plan registered a similar score on that question-89 percent of workers said that benefit was "very important or important" in their career decisions.

Other programs, however, revealed more uncertainty in the workforce. Only 30 percent said that Flexible Spending Accounts meet their needs, while 45 percent said they didn't know. Employees can use FSAs to put aside pre-tax dollars for some expenses that are not covered by standard health insurance, such as co-payments, deductibles, laser eye surgery and dental work. Federal workers are allowed to put aside up to $4,000 for these expenses, and up to $5,000 in pre-tax dependent care accounts toward care of children and the elderly.

Similarly, 31 percent of respondents said they did not know if telework met their needs, and 34 percent said that telework is not available in their agency.

Of telework, Hausser said that "there's a perception that it should be more competitive than it is." She told reporters that telework is "evolving in the agencies."

On other programs where employees were not overwhelmingly enthusiastic-including health and wellness programs, long-term care insurance and child care subsidies-Hausser suggested that education might be an issue.

She said that nothing in the survey indicated that OPM needs to change its policy, but some results will "drive us to ask more questions."