Health Benefits for WA State Workers Drops Slightly in 2006

The dip from 67.1% in 2005 to 66.4% in 2006 was the second year in a row a decline was reported, following the 2004 figure of 67.8%, according to a statement released Monday about the survey of 8,386 employers.by the Washington Department of Employment Security.

The number of employers offering health benefits to their part-time workers also dropped from 15.1% in 2004 and 2005 to 14.2% in 2006. The number of employers offering these employee benefits was higher among higher salary industries.

Other findings of the survey include:

• 42% of employers offered a retirement plan to full-time employees, while 25% offered that benefit to part-time employees.
• 74% of employers gave full-time employees paid vacation, 26% offered that benefit to part-time workers;
• 71% of employers gave paid holiday leave to full-time workers, 29% offered that benefit to part-time workers;
• 54% of employers offered health insurance to the dependents of full-time employees, 12% offered that benefit to the dependents of part-time employees; and
• 46% of employers offered paid sick leave to full-time employees, while 18% offered that benefit to part-time employees.

The full results of the 2006 Washington State Employee Benefits Report arehere .