It's no surprise that companies continue to cut workplace benefits. According to a U.S. News article: "Employers have significantly cut many of the benefits they offer to workers over the past five years."
The article goes on to list 21 workplace benefits that are going away, with reductions in retirement and health care benefits leading the way.
Most people looking at becoming self-employed or starting a small business go through a risk/reward analysis of their choices. This process is based on their views of the advantages and disadvantages of traditional employment versus self-employment.
We've found that corporate benefits tend to be overvalued in this analysis.
People think employer benefit replacement costs are higher than they are, or that certain benefits can't be replaced when they can. We've also found employer retirement and health benefits tend to be the most valued - and overvalued - in the evaluation process.
There are a lot of other factors people include in their analysis - work/life balance, job security, advancement potential, social factors, etc. - but benefits matter.
So when corporations cut benefits - and in particular cut health and retirement benefits - they increase the attractiveness of self-employment or starting a business.
We don't see the trend towards lower benefits changings. This means more people are likely to find self-employment or starting a small business more attractive.
I agree with your point. In fact, the trend towards self employment will be accelerated by change in the nature of business organization - we will see more consultants and contractors in workforce, essentially each acting as his/her own "small business". Business gains by bringing in more flexibility, while consultants will enjoy more flexibility (especially older workers and recent moms). As you said, benefits are becoming less of a concern in this new environment.
- J Michael, ParetoCentral.com - Crowdsourced Confidential Consultations.
Posted by: J Michael | August 01, 2011 at 03:51 PM