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Employer Benefits Survey Deadline Looms, Entries Surge

GREENVILLE, SC – May 12, 2010 – With the participation deadline less than three weeks away, more than 120 organizations in 30 communities across the state have already submitted data in the 2010 South Carolina Employer Benefits Survey – a sign that employers are hungry to benchmark their employee benefit programs against peers and competitors and assess competitive positioning, organizers announced today.

The one-of-a-kind biannual survey, sponsored by regional insurance agent/broker Rosenfeld Einstein, is free to any South Carolina organization to participate in, and helps organizations determine if they are providing competitive employee benefit packages and paying competitive fees for their programs – or at risk of losing valuable talent to more savvy competitors.

“From Pawleys Island to Piedmont, Hilton Head to Hartsville, Clemson to Columbia, we’ve been inundated with participation from companies that recognize the value of this unique information – and the competitive advantages it can provide them,” noted Howard Einstein, president of program sponsor Rosenfeld Einstein Employee Benefits Corporation. “Participants tell us that the data is exceptionally valuable and timely in their benefits planning, so we are pleased to make it available to all interested South Carolina organizations.”

The survey, last executed in 2008, provides businesses with qualitative and quantitative data on employee benefit programs at no cost for participation, noted Einstein. Ideally suited for organizations with 20 or more employees, the online survey is confidential and data takes approximately 20-30 minutes to enter.

“A key benefit of this one-of-a-kind survey is in helping companies understand where they stand competitively, both locally and nationally, in recruiting and retaining their best associates,” noted Einstein. “In today’s economy where top people can make or break an organization’s success, benefits have a huge influence on where top talent chooses to work. And no smart company leader wants to lack this critical information about how their benefits program compares to the competition – and be at risk of losing their best employees.”

Einstein added that the online survey helps organizations make better decisions about benefit plans based on real-time market data. With over 200 data points, the South Carolina Employer Benefits Survey helps businesses compare benefits offerings to competitors in such areas as:

 Deductibles
 Office Visit and Prescription Drug Co-payments
 Medical Plan Increases
 Monthly Premiums (Single/Family)
 Monthly Employee Contributions
 Traditional Co-pay plans vs. Consumer Directed plan costs
 Use of wellness, flex time and education reimbursement programs

Every participating organization receives a customized analysis comparing their plan to others statewide and nationally. All information is held in total confidence, and participating company information is only shared with that company. At the completion of the survey, Rosenfeld Einstein will present aggregated data from across the state to attendees and media at a seminar in Greenville on August 31, at which time attendees will receive the individual benchmark reports for their organization. Non-attendees will have their custom reports mailed or delivered to them.

“For South Carolina to continue to advance in the global economy, this type of benchmark information is essential to forward-thinking organizations, and we’re pleased to make it available,” Einstein added. “We’re also appreciative of more than two dozen organizations across the state – from chambers of commerce to associations, economic development groups to municipalities -- that are helping us get the survey out to their constituents.”

Organizations wishing to participate in the survey can enter their data confidentially online. Go to www.RosenfeldEinstein.com and click on 2010 SC Employer Benefits Survey to complete the survey.

The deadline for organizations to complete the online survey is May 31, 2010. For additional information on Rosenfeld Einstein or the 2010 South Carolina Employer Benefits Survey, email Gina Dill at gdill@rosenfeldeinstein.com or call (864) 672-4565.

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Rosenfeld Einstein is a regional, independent insurance agency/brokerage and consulting firm. Areas of specialty include employee benefits, personal, commercial property and casualty, life and health insurance, workplace safety, wellness and financial services. Visit them on the web at www.RosenfeldEinstein.com.